Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says Nigeria requires a decisive legislation to stem poaching in the country.
Abbas said this while declaring open a day public hearing on the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hearing was organised by the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements.
Abass noted that between 2016 and 2019, more than half of pangolin scales seized globally came from Nigeria.
According to him, in January 2019, Hong Kong Customs seized $8 million worth of elephant tusks and pangolin scales from a shipping container from Nigeria.
The lawmaker said that Nigeria had become the world’s most significant transit point for illegal ivory and pangolin scales smuggled from Africa to Asia.
Quoting conservationists, he said that Nigeria currently has less than 500 elephants, 100 Cross River gorillas and about 50 lions left.
He said pangolins were presently endangered or on the brink of extinction.
The speaker said that the same situation was applicable to crocodiles and antelope species, rats and duikers, which are widely available in ‘bush meat’ markets across the country.
He said that the decline was due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change, all of which, he said, had added another layer of complexity to the challenges faced by these already vulnerable species.
According to him, the loss of biodiversity weakens the country’s ecosystem resilience, thus making it more susceptible to environmental disturbances.
“The rate at which species across Nigeria are facing extinction is a stark reminder of the urgent need for a decisive legislative action to halt this negative trend.
“This bill, therefore, is not merely a legislative exercise; it is a critical step towards fulfilling our moral obligation to protect the environment and preserve the legacy of these invaluable species for future generations.
“It seeks to establish a robust legal framework that will address the multi-faceted challenges threatening our endangered animals and plants, such as illegal wildlife trade by imposing stringent penalties on those involved in the trafficking of the endangered species.
“It seeks to promote sustainable wildlife management through the establishment of conservation areas and the implementation of community-based conservation initiatives. amongst others.
“We, therefore, encourage you to share your insights, experiences, and recommendations, whether they are in support of the bill or proposing amendments that can further enhance its effectiveness,” he said.
The speaker called for actions to protect the environment as it would open up great opportunity of turning wildlife and environment into economic use.
He said that investment in the sector would, in turn, create jobs, generate revenue, and promote sustainable development that would benefit local communities and the country at large.
Abbas noted that Nigeria had also committed to regulating wildlife trade, conserving migratory species, and protecting ecosystems through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
According to him, Nigeria is also a signatory to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Rebiu Yusuf described the bill as a critical step in the collective efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s biodiversity.
Yusif said that it was to protect endangered species, and ensure the sustainable management of Nigeria’s precious natural resources, while also fulfilling its international commitments.
He said that the bill sought to establish strict legal protection for species listed under the CITES Appendices as well as endangered and migratory species identified under the CMS.
“It criminalises illegal trade, poaching, and trafficking of protected species, with penalties designed to serve as effective deterrents.
“It also promotes the sustainable use of natural resources in line with the principles of CBD.
“It encourages local communities to participate in conservation efforts through community-based natural resource management programmes and ensures that benefits from the use of biodiversity are shared equitably,” he said.
The chairman also said that the bill, when passed into law, would strengthen the management of national parks, game reserves, and protected areas, which serve as vital refuges for wildlife.
“It includes provisions for the restoration of degraded habitats and the expansion of protected areas to support both resident and migratory species.
“The bill provides for the establishment of enforcement bodies with the mandate to ensure compliance with wildlife conservation laws.
“It enhances the powers of customs officials, wildlife officers, and other relevant authorities to combat illegal trade and trafficking.
“It recognises the need to raise public awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation,” he said. (NAN)
