By Innocent Onoh
Local and international environmental stakeholders have lauded the Nigerian Senate’s approval of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, describing it as a major step toward safeguarding the nation’s wildlife and combating illegal trafficking of endangered species.
Their reactions were contained in a statement released to journalists in Lagos by the Nigeria Representative of Wild Africa, Mr. Festus Iyorah.
According to the statement, the Senate’s approval underscores Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the sustainable protection of wild species and the determination to stop criminal elements from using the country as a hub for illegal wildlife trade.
With the Senate’s passage, the bill will now be forwarded to the President for assent.
Originally passed by the House of Representatives in May 2025, the bill introduces stricter penalties for wildlife-related offences and strengthens enforcement mechanisms to tackle wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction. It updates existing wildlife laws, increases penalties for offenders, and grants investigators greater authority to trace financial transactions and conduct intelligence-led operations.
The bill also empowers judges to expedite wildlife-related cases, confiscate offenders’ assets, and promotes international collaboration by aligning with global treaties and enabling the extradition of offenders.
Reacting to the development, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, who represents Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, described the bill’s passage as “a clear indication of Nigeria’s seriousness in protecting its rich fauna and flora.”
“This is a huge win for Nigeria. It shows, without any doubt, that we remain committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking and protecting our unique fauna and flora,” Ugbor said.
“Stronger laws mean Nigeria’s forests and wildlife will now be shielded from exploitation and criminal activities. Protecting wildlife is tantamount to safeguarding our environment and our future.”
Also reacting, the Executive Director of Africa Nature Foundation (ANI), Mr. Tunde Morakinyo, expressed delight, noting that the new law would tighten Nigeria’s borders and reduce their vulnerability to wildlife trafficking.
“This momentous day has been several years in the making. For too long, traffickers have used Nigeria as a transit route for the illegal wildlife trade, moving endangered species through our borders, ports, and airports to Europe and Asia,” Morakinyo said.
“The Bill seeks to halt this shameful trade that destroys our environment and damages Nigeria’s global reputation. We salute the Nigerian Senate for taking this bold step that positions the country as a leader with one of the most progressive wildlife laws in Africa.”
ANI is a Nigerian non-governmental organization working to make Africa’s nature and wildlife a source of pride for the continent.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA UK), Mary Rice, described the passage of the bill as “a significant milestone and a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to transition from being a hub for wildlife crime to becoming a global leader in combating it.”
“Congratulations to all those who worked tirelessly on this journey. EIA has been proud to support these efforts and will continue to assist Nigeria and other countries in the region,” Rice said.
“It is imperative that this law is now implemented and effectively used by investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary to bring wildlife traffickers and environmental offenders to justice.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Wild Africa (WA), Mr. Peter Knights, urged the President to give the bill speedy assent.
“We hope the President will move quickly to sign this bill. The UN CITES meeting on trade in endangered species holds at the end of November in Uzbekistan, and enacting this law before then would be a tremendous achievement for the country,” Knights stated.
“It would demonstrate the administration’s commitment to playing a leading role in the global fight against wildlife crime.”
The statement noted that ANI, EIA UK, and WA have been actively supporting the Nigerian Government’s efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking with the support of the Pangolin Conservation Fund, the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
EIA, it added, will also ensure proper implementation of the new law through the GUARD Wildlife Project, funded by the European Union.
Over the past decade, Nigeria has been identified as a major hub for wildlife trafficking, particularly for ivory and pangolin scales destined for Asian markets. The country has been linked to the smuggling of more than 30 tons of ivory since 2015 and over half of all pangolin scales trafficked globally between 2016 and 2019.
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Environmental organizations have therefore hailed the new bill as a timely and decisive response to combat organized wildlife crime and restore Nigeria’s reputation in global conservation efforts.
