Nigeria to enact a bill to protect endangered species and wildlife trafficking.
In a joint statement issued by the world’s leading environmental NGOs, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Africa Nature Investors (ANI), and Wild Africa Fund, the groups praised the new Nigeria’s “Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill,” which managed to pass the first reading at the House of Representatives. Kelechukwu Iruoma, the Nigerian Representative for the Wild Africa Fund, signed the declaration on the other groups’ behalf, reiterating that the bill, which was drafted by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, aims to combat illegal wildlife trade and safeguard highly threatened species.
Sam Onuigbo and Johnson Oghuma, who is the head of the House Committee on Environment, are both co-sponsors of this bill. According to the statement, the act would bring Nigeria into compliance with international treaties against corruption, organized crime, and endangered species. It further stated that if the bill became law, it would provide investigators more authority to conduct financial investigations and intelligence-driven operations. Sanctions for interfering with protected areas, failing to get the necessary permits, releasing an invasive species into the wild, obstructing law enforcement, and planning a crime will also be established.
Plants and animals have the right to life, just as humans do.
Both animals and plants have the same right to life, just as people do. To guarantee their sustainability, Nigerians must utilize all of their available resources. Mr. Oghuma was again cited in a statement stating that It is time to take action to halt the destruction of the environment and conserve our wildlife and vegetation internationally. Additionally, it noted that environmental NGOs were proactively aiding the national government’s initiatives to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, with assistance from the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the United Kingdom Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.
Furthermore, the bill will also toughen punishments to account for the severity of the crimes committed against endangered species. It would strengthen corporate liability, promote international cooperation, and increase the courts’ capacity to accelerate wildlife case resolution and asset recovery. Mr. Oghuma also noted that the alarming pace at which some kinds of animals and flora were being destroyed was becoming more widespread. Species are being driven closer and closer to extinction every day, and there is now a number of endangered species. It is important to remember that any action taken to undermine biodiversity and preservation has a high price.
Nigerians should strive to protect wildlife as an example to others.
According to Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Executive Director Tunde Morakinyo, this is a historical moment for Nigeria. Everybody throughout the globe is keeping a close eye on the situation. He encouraged the people to do the right thing and prove to the world that Nigeria is capable of leading Africa in the fight against illegal trafficking in wildlife. He also applauds the politicians for addressing the issue so soon before the elections. They know that this is important for Nigeria.
Mary Rice, executive director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), was quoted saying that this new legislation measure is good technology and may completely transform the sector. Together with its other partners, EIA considers this as an important step toward combating wildlife trafficking as well as protecting animal populations that are on the verge of extinction in Nigeria and throughout Africa. They have high hopes that it will be promptly implemented in order to alleviate the current problem.
The country has become a centre for illegal wildlife trafficking.
Similarly, Peter Knights, the chief executive officer of the Wild Africa Fund, was also featured in the statement. He said Nigeria has evolved into the centre of illegal traffic of pangolin scales and ivory. If it were to become law, this bill would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to put an end to border trafficking. In the past, inadequate regulations have made it difficult for government agencies to make large seizures, but they have been successful in prosecuting and pursuing criminals on a local level.
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NGOs laud Nigeria’s wildlife protection bill – Nigeria to enact a bill to protect endangered species and wildlife trafficking. – Express your point of view.
The wildlife protection bill really speaks volume of our interest to ensure animals are protected. This is a good thing for our country. The non governmental organizations will also ensure they use the opportunity to protect more animals, especially the ones going into extinction.
It is great that the Environmental Investigation Agency, Africa Nature Investors, and Wild Africa Fund have all come together to release an unified statement. The statement was issued by the biggest environmental NGOs from around the world.
I support the Federal Ministry of the Environment on this,to combat illegal wildlife trade and safeguard highly threatened species. It is time to take action to halt the destruction of the environment and conserve our wildlife.
If the act is passed, Nigeria will be in line with international treaties against corruption, which is a very positive development.
In addition, it was reported that if the measure was passed into law, it would provide investigators broader ability to conduct intelligence-driven operations and financial inquiries.
Nigeria to enact a bill to protect endangered species and wildlife trafficking. Whatever that is to be done, should be done to protect the species
In order to ensure their own survival, Nigerians need to make full use of all of the resources at their disposal.
Additionally, the non-governmental organizations will make certain that they take use of the opportunity to protect a greater number of species, particularly those that are on the verge of extinction.
The EIA, Africa Nature Investors, and Wild Africa Fund’s joint statement is wonderful. The largest global environmental NGOs published the declaration.
the citizens of Nigeria to act morally and demonstrate to the rest of the world that their country is capable of taking the lead in Africa’s battle against the illegal trade in wildlife species.
It has been difficult for government agents to conduct major seizures because of poor restrictions; nonetheless, they have been successful in prosecuting and pursuing offenders on a local basis.
All of us care deeply about protecting wildlife, and this legislation reflects that. This is beneficial for the welfare of our nation. The NGOs will also make sure they make the most of the chance to save additional creatures, especially the ones on the verge of extinction.
The Nigerian people have an abundance of resources at their disposal, each and every one of which must be exploited to its utmost potential in order to assure their own continued existence.
Some animals are going into extinction because people are killing the animal with this bill the animals can be protected from been killed recklessly and protect our environment and species from trafficking
It’s past time for us to do something to stop the deterioration of our ecosystem and protect the animals that calls it home.
Unnecessary poaching, capturing of wildlife for sales and cutting down of very important trees and clear of forest rich in flora have to the extinction of some these organisms. The bill passed into law will ensure that activities against these organisms are prohibited and offenders dealt with.
Our government has taken the right decision by passing the bill that will protect flora and fauna found in the wild to prevent them from extinction.
Like people, both plants and animals are entitled to life. Nigerians must make use of all of their resources in order to ensure their sustainability.
In order to stop the illegal wildlife trade and protect critically endangered species, I support the Federal Ministry of the Environment in this. It is time to act to stop environmental deterioration and protect our wildlife.