Some wildlife species are facing extinction across the globe, and Nigeria is particularly affected by this troubling trend. Michael Olugbode emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue.
Many people underestimate the importance of wildlife, failing to recognize that threats to these species pose significant risks to human existence. Wildlife plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, human well-being, and the overall health of our planet.
Ecologically, wildlife contributes to biodiversity, ecosystem services, food chains, and habitat maintenance. Its environmental significance includes climate regulation and soil conservation, among other benefits. Danilo Campisi, the Officer-in-Charge at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office in Nigeria, highlights in the World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 that wildlife crime results in a range of interconnected negative impacts on the environment, society, economy, and governance, particularly evident in Nigeria’s ongoing biodiversity exploitation.
At the launch of the ICCWC Toolkit Report for Nigeria, Campisi noted that the Wildlife Chapter of UNODC’s 2023 Organised Crime Threat Assessment revealed that between 2011 and 2020, Nigeria was involved in over 1,000 wildlife-related seizures, either as a source, transit, or destination point. Increased enforcement at Apapa Port has led traffickers to resort to other Nigerian ports, indicating a shift in their operations.
Border towns such as Gaya, near Nigeria and the Benin Republic, are identified as key locations for the storage of wildlife products like elephant ivory and pangolin scales before they enter Nigeria. Furthermore, armed groups are increasingly participating in the illegal harvesting and trafficking of rosewood, which tragically resulted in the deaths of nine park rangers in violent clashes with illegal loggers at Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
The 2024 World Wildlife Report also indicates that unsustainable exploitation has drastically reduced rosewood populations. A CITES ban on rosewood exports from Nigeria may have arrived just in time to prevent complete extinction of the species. However, this ban has pressured loggers to target other wood species, such as Afzelia, which has serious repercussions for local communities, as it similarly helps reduce erosion and is somewhat fire-resistant.
Campisi notes that while the Nigeria Customs Service has increased seizures at various points, two-thirds of these incidents were reported by authorities in other countries, indicating a need for enhanced interception capabilities. Strengthening communication and cooperation with relevant authorities worldwide could lead to more efficient intelligence-led operations targeting trafficking networks.
He also emphasized the importance of understanding further action required to combat the illegal wildlife trade and explained that the ICCWC Toolkit assessment examined Nigeria’s legal, regulatory, and institutional capacities in tackling wildlife and forest crimes. This assessment is crucial for implementing Nigeria’s National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime for 2022-2026.
Campisi urged all stakeholders to collaborate in advancing the toolkit’s recommendations, which provide valuable insights to bolster Nigeria’s response to wildlife crime. UNODC findings reveal that wildlife and forest crime is a serious and escalating problem, with Nigeria emerging as a major transit hub for illegal wildlife products like pangolin scales and ivory.
In response, the Nigerian government sought support from the ICCWC in 2019 to implement the Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit. This toolkit allows for a comprehensive evaluation of government responses to wildlife crime and offers targeted recommendations to address pressing challenges.
Recently, the final results of the ICCWC Toolkit Assessment for Nigeria outlined 33 recommendations aimed at enhancing the nation’s wildlife crime justice system. Key suggestions include supporting the Endangered Species Protection and Conservation Bill 2024 and establishing a wildlife crime unit within the Directorate of Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
During the launch of the report in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, emphasized the need for a multifaceted approach to tackle wildlife crime, acknowledging that while progress has been made, much remains to be done. He pointed out that Nigeria is home to a wealth of biodiversity, including unique species such as the West African lion and the African forest elephant. However, these species face significant threats from poaching and habitat loss.
The federal government’s endorsement of the ICCWC Toolkit report reflects its commitment to combat wildlife crime. At the same event, Campisi reiterated the urgency of implementing the toolkit’s recommendations, supported by vital data and trends.
With Nigeria hosting more than 1,340 animal species and being the eighth-highest country in Africa for diversity, it is vital that the nation preserves its rich natural heritage for future generations. The ICCWC Toolkit Report aims to provide the necessary momentum for effective wildlife conservation efforts, safeguarding both wildlife and the livelihoods of Nigerian communities.
