Ini Billie, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Government on Thursday said it would invest in the preservation of wildlife for export-driven.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said on Thursday during a tour of some resort places like Grace of God Villa along Ediene road, Afaha Idoro in Uyo that the government was interested in wildlife at the Biodiversity Preservation Centre of the villa.
According to him, the government was ready to support the project as the expected income derived from such investment would be valuable for tourism.
He said: “The state government is committed to boosting the state economy by bolstering entrepreneurial development such as the Biodiversity Preservation Centre of Prof Eniang.
Leading the commissioner and his entourage around the wildlife centre, Prof Edem Eniang, the Manager of the Biodiversity Preservation Centre said snakes can be exported as money-spinning merchandise.
“One baby snake of a python goes for as high as $400 in the United States and even costlier than that in other places.
“Nigeria has 2,000 snakes export quota per year, approved by the United Nations, but the country does not even have up to 20 to export. Ghana and other West African countries ship snakes to Nigeria to make up its quota,” Eniang added.
Eniang said that the state needs about five hectares of land, even if it is in the ravine to breed pythons for export, adding that one of the snakes that is particularly captivating is the ‘Ball Python,’ known in Ibibio as ‘Ediye Asabo.’
He maintained that the centre has other animals like monkeys, crocodiles, birds of all kinds, tortoises, fish, and snakes in its fold.