Environmentalists led by former Head of Civil Service Prof. Oladapo Abiodun Afolabi have called on the Federal Government to designate Katampe Hill and its waterfalls in Abuja as a National Park, stressing their importance as sacred birthplaces of rivers that sustain ecosystems and communities.
The call came during the launch of the “Where Rivers Are Born”—Save Katampe Hill and Waterfalls campaign organized by the Foundation for the Conservation of Nigerian Rivers in collaboration with the Earth Law Centre, USA-Africa Programme. The campaign aims to combine ecological restoration with legal recognition, including legal personhood for the mountain and surrounding ecosystems, a concept increasingly adopted globally.
Designating Katampe as a National Park would protect its fragile environment from encroachment, promote sustainable tourism, enhance water security, and provide opportunities for environmental education and scientific research. The move also aims to prevent unregulated urban expansion, while positioning Katampe as a symbol of ecological restoration in Nigeria.
The campaign received strong local support, with residents pledging to protect the area from further degradation for future generations.
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