Tourism Expert Condemns Killing of Jos Wildlife Lion

Charles Ajunwa, One of Africa’s revered promoters of tourism, Mr. Ikechi Uko has condemned the killing of the only lion left in the Jos wildlife park which escaped recently, describing the killing of the lion as a huge loss to the country’s tourism sector.
     Mr. Uko who said he had a personal connection with dead lion, regretted that the gains made in the tourism sector are being wiped away.The organiser of Akwaaba travel fair who disclosed this on his Facebook page titled: “Jos Wildlife Lion Killed”, said the Jos wildlife park was badly managed. “That lion is the only lion in the once popular Jos wildlife park. The lion escaped some days ago from the badly managed park and was executed by Nigerian police and civil defence operatives. Now these guys are celebrating their feat of killing a lion but for me it’s a huge loss. I feel a connection to the dead lion. Slowly we are officially wiping away the small tourism gains we all fought for over the years. Nigerian tourism is in reversal right now. Too bad,” Mr. Uko said.
     Mr. Uko’s post on the Facebook also attracted comments from some concerned tourists. Some of the comments read thus: “I am deeply pained not just for killing of an innocent lion but at the level of our ignorance. No one should blame those guys, a large number of our population are unaware that we need to preserve our wildlife. We must come together and drive this consciousness into our people and stop complaining. Let’s start now,” posted one of the commentators.
Another commentator posted: “Under the NTDC (Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation) watch? Don’t we have a corporation charged with the promotion and marketing of Nigeria as a tourism destination? The death of this lion is a loss to tourism income and jobs. The real tourism promoters should organise a funeral for this lion.”
This commentator has this to say: “Life is beautiful seeing something wonderful within us that make us happy…but it get worried and worst when things we want are being taken away for unnecessary act. If the lion is in mountains this couldn’t have happened. If a tranquilliser is available it would have saved the life of the lion.