The threat posed by wildlife crimes in Nigeria has prompted the country to engage international partners to curb the scourge. It is instructive that the federal government in collaboration with international partners has taken steps to review Nigeria’s legal frameworks to contain this menace.
Protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity has become the core concern especially now that illegal activities and crimes have ravaged Nigeria’s wildlife and natural heritage. Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in its efforts to safeguard its rich biodiversity and to curb the illegal activities.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass, buttressed this point at the launch of the international consortium on combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) toolkit assessment report for Nigeria in Abuja on September, 20, 2024.
He said: “Nigeria is a nation blessed with an abundance of natural endemic iconic natural resources such as gorilla, elephant, pangolin, ostrich, lion, flora, including some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. However, these blessings come with immense responsibility.
“Over the past few decades, we have witnessed an alarming increase in wildlife crime, including poaching, illegal logging, and trafficking of endangered species. These crimes not only threaten our environment but also undermine the rule of law, fuel corruption, and deprive communities of their livelihoods, undermine public health and natural security.”
The ICCWC toolkit assessment report was a comprehensive and timely document that provides Nigeria with a clear cut view of the challenges as well as the opportunities for strengthening the efforts to combat wildlife crimes.
It is estimated that Nigeria has lost billions of dollars to wildlife crimes and it has become a dire situation that requires enhanced coordination among national agencies, improved law enforcement capacity, and stronger legal frameworks in response, which is the core area of the report.
It is on record that the Federal Government took several proactive steps to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies. It is currently reviewing legal frameworks, signed the Cooperation Agreement Framework between Nigeria and Cameroon on Transboundary Ecosystems Conservation and Sustainable Management of Wildlife and Forest Resources and increased public awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation.
Although Nigeria appears to have taken serious steps, the challenge is that wildlife crime is complex because it is a transnational issue that requires a multi-faceted and collaborative approach.
It is a challenging situation but the recommendations in the ICCWC toolkit assessment report provide the nation with a valuable guide to improve its efforts because the protection of Nigeria’s wildlife is not just an environmental issue, it is a matter of national security, economic prosperity, and global responsibility.
There is hope that Nigeria will do well in this as expressed by the officer-in-charge of the United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office, Nigeria, Danilo Campisi
Campisi, while commending the Nigeria Customs Service for its efforts which have resulted in increased seizures at land, sea, and airport border points, of which about two-thirds of all seizures involving Nigeria were reported by authorities of other countries, said this suggests that interception capabilities still need to be strengthened.
He said: “The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 reminds us that the harms resulting from wildlife crime include a range of interlinked negative environmental, social, economic, and governance impacts, which are evident in the ongoing exploitation of Nigeria’s rich biodiversity.
He added that: “Enhanced information exchange and cooperation with relevant authorities in countries of origin, transit, and destination offer opportunities for intelligence-led operations and parallel or joint investigations aimed at detecting and dismantling trafficking networks.
“In this context, it is critical to understand what further steps are required to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife and forest products.”
The ICCWC Analytical Toolkit for Nigeria, conducted by UNODC in cooperation with all relevant Nigerian authorities under the overall lead of the Federal Ministry of Environment, examines the effectiveness of the legal and regulatory environment, as well as the institutional capacities of specialised law enforcement, prosecution, and the judiciary to prevent, detect, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate wildlife and forest crimes.
This assessment provides important inputs for the effective implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria 2022-2026, which was first launched in 2022.
The ICCWC toolkit report provides Nigeria and Partners with new insights and recommendations aimed to strengthen the legal and institutional response to wildlife and forest crime in Nigeria and all stakeholders must work together to advance the implementation of these recommendations.
