October 24, 2024, is the scheduled date of the House of Representatives public hearing for Nigeria’s Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024. The bill, which intends to address important concerns like the illegal wildlife trafficking, species protection, and the depletion of Nigeria’s wildlife, is being spearheaded by Terseer Ugbor, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment. The bill seeks to increase the capacity of law enforcement organisations, granting them greater ability to look into financial crimes, carry out operations based on intelligence, and expedite wildlife-related judicial proceedings.
Along with enforcing harsher punishments for offenders, it also highlights the significance of international collaboration and treaty observance. In order to preserve livelihoods and uphold natural balance, Ugbor emphasises the significance of wildlife protection and invites the public to participate in the hearing. The US and UK governments have also provided extra assistance to the bill, which has garnered significant support from national and international organisations like the Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA), Wild Africa (WA), and Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI).
Several rare and endangered species can be found in the nation.
Nigeria faces formidable obstacles in its efforts to conserve its species, including habitat loss, poaching without permission, and lax implementation of current regulations. Several rare species can be found in the nation, such as the West African lion, whose population has decreased by more than 90% in recent decades, and the highly endangered Cross River gorilla, of which there are only approximately 300 remaining in the wild. The African Forest elephant and the pangolin, which are heavily trafficked for their meat and scales and have made Nigeria a hub for the illegal wildlife trade, are two more species that are endangered.
With the aim of immediately addressing these issues, the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024 gives law enforcement organisations the authority to look into and disrupt trafficking networks. The measure gives law enforcement officials the power to look into financial connections between wildlife trafficking and illegal wildlife trading, giving them the ability to locate and seize assets related to this illicit activity. This holds significant importance since numerous trafficking networks function within organised crime syndicates, frequently obtaining funding via intricate financial networks.
Local environmental advocacy organisations have shown support for the law.
Also, the bill permits intelligence-led operations, which means that agencies can partner with foreign organisations to exchange data and launch coordinated attacks on networks of poaching. The Judiciary will also have the authority to expedite wildlife cases, which will lower the backlog and provide quicker justice. This is vital in a nation where wildlife cases can take years to settle, giving traffickers a comparatively safe operating environment. Local environmental advocacy organisations have expressed significant support for the law, including the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
An NCF official said in a statement: “This bill represents a significant step in protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity. We have personally witnessed the destruction wrought by poaching, particularly in the Cross River region where gorillas and elephants are in danger of going extinct. Reversing this trend will need global cooperation and stronger enforcement.” On the other hand, several people have expressed worry. The bill’s opponents contend that although it increases enforcement, it does not sufficiently address the underlying issues that lead to wildlife trafficking, such as Poverty and the absence of viable alternatives for the local population. Furthermore, there are worries that the bill would cause law enforcement to overreach because of possible abuses of the increased authority without enough supervision.
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In terms of global collaboration, the bill places Nigeria in line with the African Union’s efforts to combat wildlife crime and international conventions like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Nigeria would have access to international intelligence networks and financial and technical support to strengthen its conservation efforts through collaboration with foreign organisations. To combat poaching, for instance, the UK’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund has already committed funding, and Nigerian officials receive training from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Fighting wildlife trafficking, which frequently crosses international borders and necessitates concerted international efforts to disrupt, requires cooperation between our two organisations.