‘Wildlife Trafficking Threatening Nation’s Natural Heritage’

The deputy chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon Terseer Ugbor, has said that wildlife trafficking threatens Nigeria’s natural heritage.

Hon. Ugbor stated this against a public hearing for the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, scheduled in Nigeria’s House of Representatives on October 24, 2024.

However, Hon. Ugbor called on all stakeholders to participate in the vital conversation, saying the hearing would allow everyone to voice their opinions.

“Protecting our wildlife means protecting livelihoods and ensuring a balanced ecosystem, and we can’t allow wildlife trafficking to continue to threaten our natural heritage,” said Hon Ugbor.

“This hearing will provide a platform for everybody to voice their opinions on this vital issue. We urge everyone to participate in this vital conversation,” he stated.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the bill, championed by Hon. Ugbor, will tackle pressing challenges such as illegal wildlife trade, species conservation, and the decline of Nigeria’s precious wildlife and their habitats.

The Bill seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, give investigators more powers to look into financial matters and conduct operations guided by intelligence, and enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets.