UN Decries Illegal Trade in Wildlife, Forest Products in Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United Nations (UN)  yesterday decried illegal trade in wildlife and forest product, insisting that low enlightenment, weak legislation and implementation among other gaps continue to impede effective prosecutions of offenders.

Speaking at this year’s commemoration of the World Wildlife Day (WWD), themed: “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Conservation”, in Abuja, the Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, said two thirds of all seizures involving Nigeria were reported by the authorities of other countries.

“This suggests that interception capabilities still need to be strengthened, while enhanced information exchange and cooperation with relevant authorities in countries of origin, transit and destination is necessary,” he said.

He added while quoting the UNODC 2033 report that: “Nigeria is a key transit hub and consolidation point for various forms of illegal trade in wildlife and forest products, especially for pangolin, ivory and rosewood.

“These products are sourced both from Nigeria as well as from other countries in the region including Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic.”

According to UNODC’s World Wildlife Seizures Database, he said  there were more than a 1000 records between 2011 and 2020 which indicate Nigeria as a source, transit or destination country.

“Another finding of the research suggests that armed groups are increasingly involved in the illegal harvesting and trafficking of rosewood, with nine park rangers losing their lives in violent encounters with persons involved in illegal logging in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park. in general, it appears that illegal logging activities continue, despite the 2018 trade suspension of rosewood from Nigeria,” he said.

The UN body called on religious and traditional leaders to partner with the government in enlightening Nigerians on the importance of preserving and protecting Nigeria’s rich biodiversity.

Also, in commemoration of the World Wildlife Day celebration, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal,  emphasised the importance of digital innovation in conserving biodiversity and protecting wildlife.

Abbas who made the disclosure in Abuja, highlighted the significant role of technology in safeguarding the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity.

According to him, there is need to leverage technological advancements to combat illegal wildlife trade, mitigate habitat loss, and address the impacts of climate change.

In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Country Team Leader, Dr. Otto Muhinda, emphasised the importance of recognising emerging and re-emerging diseases, as they pose a significant threat to global health.

He underscored the need for coordinated efforts to prevent outbreaks and mentioned the collaborative initiatives undertaken by global organisations such as the FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Drawing attention to Nigeria’s own challenges, Muhinda cited examples of zoonotic diseases prevalent in the country, including Lassa fever and anthrax. He emphasised that wildlife serves as a reservoir for many of the diseases, with 60 per cent of zoonotic diseases originating from animals.

Also, the federal government in order to ensure a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable environment on Tuesday inaugurated the Working Group on Environmental Standards for the Sustainable Procurement Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project

Inaugurating the project in Abuja, Lawal, explained that the project was a collaboration of the World Bank and the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Environment, Finance, Budget and National Planning.

 “It is important to note that this project’s goals align seamlessly with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a more transparent procurement process. Transparency is the cornerstone of good governance, and by enhancing our environmental and social standards, we are taking a significant step towards achieving this objective.

“ Furthermore, this initiative is integral to our broader goals of enhanced capacity for global competitiveness, economic growth and job creation,” he said.