US, sister Agencies launches initiative to end illegal wildlife trade

The US Embassy in partnership with the African Nature Investors Foundation (ANI) and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), has launched the resource, Combating Wildlife Crime in Nigeria. An analysis of the criminal Justice Legislative Framework in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, while expressing concern over Nigeria been the biggest pangolin trafficking country in the world, emphasised for the critical need for a greater communication and collaboration between investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial bodies to bring about quicker justice and sentence which hold violators accountable.

“By working together, we will make more rapid progress in eliminating, neutralizing, and disrupting wildlife trafficking.

“We need to do more to raise public indignation about this ugly crime that imperils the planet’s biodiversity, funds organized crime, spreads disease like COVID-19, and threatens the very existence of Nigeria’s unique and beautiful animals,” She said.

According to the study, Nigeria has emerged as the main transit and export hub for trafficking in elephant ivory, pangolin scales, and other wildlife, but the in-depth analysis of the country’s relevant laws aims to help turn the tide.

The Executive Director Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Mary Rice explained that, “The networks responsible for trafficking wildlife from Nigeria are organized and well-coordinated, but the law enforcement response is fragmented and weak.”

This legal analysis recommends a coordinated multi-agency approach to strategically disrupt wildlife crime networks.

“We commended the Nigeria Customs Service for the recent seizure of a twenty feet container load with different animal product believed to be harvested illegally, valued at over 355 million naira as well as the arrests made in July and January this year.”

According to the Executive Director, African Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), Mr. Tunde Morakinyo, the launched legal analysis is the way forward for curbing wild life trafficking. For too long, Nigeria has been rapidly losing its precious biodiversity to crime and corruption. The legal analysis launched today highlights concrete actions that we can adopt to protect our last remaining wild species and places for the present and future generations of Nigerians.

The Nigerian Minister of State for Environment Sharon Ikeazor, represented by National Environmental Standards and Regulations Environment Agency Director General, Professor Aliyu Jauro, said Nigeria was committed to the United Nation’s convention on the fight against wild life trafficking, she however called for more enlightenment on the dangers posed by wild life trafficking to avoid the spread of zoonotic diseases.

“We must act swiftly and boldly to reverse the loss of nature. It is not too late to act envision solutions that will preserve nature for future generation. Biodiversity loss and climate change are fundamentally interlinked challenges of a similar magnitude and urgency. I urge us to continue working together to live in harmony with nature, protect and conserve our biodiversity and restore our ecosystem.”

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuses, exposes illegal fishing and seeking an end to all whaling, address the threat of global warming by campaigning to curtail powerful refrigerant greenhouse gases and exposing related criminal trade.

While Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), is a Nigerian NGO dedicated to applying best practice conservation practices and tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Nigeria.

The event was attended by senior representatives from key Nigerian government agencies and offices with the mandate to tackle wildlife trafficking, including the Nigerian Customs Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Nigerian Senate, Attorney General’s Office, National Judicial Institute, National Police, National Parks Service, Department of Forestry, and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.