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  • Senate passes wildlife protection bill, awaits Presidential assent

    Senate passes wildlife protection bill, awaits Presidential assent

    The Senate has passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024  and will now be forwarded to the President for his assent. 

    The Bill introduces strict penalties for those who break the law while tackling wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction. 

    The Bill, passed by the House of Representatives, has updated existing wildlife laws, increased penalties for wildlife crimes, and provides greater authority to investigators to probe financial transactions and conduct intelligence led operations. 

    It also empowers judges to expedite wildlife cases and recover offender assets while promoting international collaboration by aligning with global treaties and allowing extradition of offenders. 

    A statement by the West African Director Wild Africa, Linus Unah, explained the passing of this bill is a huge win for Nigeria and shows, without any doubt, that the government remains committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking and protecting its unique fauna and flora.”

    The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, who sponsored the bill Hon. Terseer Ugbor said: “This shows without doubt, that Nigeria remains committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking. This also means that with stronger laws, Nigeria’s forests and wildlife will now be protected from exploitation and criminal activities. “We are proud to see this bill move forward because protecting wildlife is tantamount to safeguarding our environment and our future.

    “In the last decade, Nigeria emerged as a major hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin sales to Asian markets, the West African country was linked to the smuggling of more than 30 tonnes of ivory since 2015 and over half of the pangolin scales trafficked globally between 2016 and 2019. Environmental organizations have praised this latest development, saying that the Bill demonstrates Nigeria’s response to tackle serious and organised wildlife trafficking”.

    Tunde Morakinyo, Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI) Executive Director noted that for too long, traffickers have used Nigeria as a transit country for the illegal wildlife trade, bringing endangered wildlife from all over Africa through the porous borders, ports and airports to export them illegally to Europe and Asia. 

    He said: “The Bill aims to halt this shameful trade which is destroying our environment and ruining Nigeria’s global reputation.  We salute the Nigerian Senate for taking this bold step which will make Nigeria a global leader with one of the most progressive wildlife laws for the African continent.”

  • ‘Wildlife protection bill to address penalties for offenders’

    ‘Wildlife protection bill to address penalties for offenders’

    The Nigeria Wildlife Protection Bill, set for public hearing, will address issues such as wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction while proposing strict penalties for offenders.

    In a statement from Festus Iyorah, Wildlife Africa Representative, it was announced that the public hearing will take place in the House of Representatives in Abuja on October 24, 2024, focusing on endangered species.

    The bill, led by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, aims to tackle urgent challenges, including illegal wildlife trade, species conservation, and the decline of Nigeria’s valuable wildlife and their habitats.

    “The Bill seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, giving investigators more powers to look into financial matters, and conduct operations guided by intelligence. It will also enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets while aligning with international treaties, encourage global cooperation, and introduce stricter penalties for poachers and traffickers.

    Read Also: Reps pass wildlife protection bill for second reading

    “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. 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.”

    Ugbor added that the public hearing will be held jointly by the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements and its Committee on the Environment.

    The Bill has garnered significant support from local and international organisations including Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), and the London-based Environmental.

  • Reps pass wildlife protection bill for second reading

    Reps pass wildlife protection bill for second reading

    The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives in Nigeria.

    The Bill which is sponsored by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, takes aim at pressing challenges such as illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and the decline of Nigeria’s unique wildlife populations.

    It addresses wildlife trafficking, habitat destruction and proposes strict penalties for offenders.

    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.

    Additionally, it aligns with international treaties, encourages global cooperation and introduces strict penalties for poachers and traffickers.

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    “Today, we take a bold stand against all illegal activities targeting our wildlife and forests. By protecting our wildlife, we protect our own future. This bill signifies our collective commitment to turn the tide against the use of our borders to traffic illegal wildlife products such as pangolin scales and elephant ivory,” Ubgor said.

    A combination of lack of public awareness, weak legislation, and minimal enforcement has hindered efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and biodiversity loss in Nigeria.

    As a result, Nigeria’s wildlife has declined massively, with species like lions, elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees driven to the verge of extinction.

    Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), and the Wild Africa Fund (WAF) have been actively supporting the Nigerian government’s efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, with support from the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

    ANI Executive Director, Tunde Morakinyo, said: “The second reading of the bill in the House of Representatives is further testament to the determination of the Nigerian people through their elected representatives to stop the illegal wildlife trade in the country.

    “ANI Foundation salutes the House of Representatives and Hon. Terseer Ugbor for exceptional leadership in this process which will make Nigeria emerge a global leader in the fight to end wildlife trafficking in Africa.”

    Executive Director of EIA UK, Mary Rice, welcomed the progress made through this second reading. “Effective enforcement without robust laws is virtually impossible. EIA commends Nigeria for recognising the urgency to enact this important legislation to support its regional and international obligations to protect Africa’s wildlife”.

    WAF CEO Peter Knights added: “This legislation will greatly enhance Nigeria’s ability to fight wildlife crime and we hope it can be swiftly enacted.”

    The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill will proceed to committee hearings for additional review and public input.