The plea for the prompt passage of the endangered species bill at the National Assembly has been made by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas. This call aims to tackle the detrimental effects of wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
In representation of the Minister, the Deputy Director of Forestry at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Rasak Kolawole, emphasized that antiquated laws and regulations pose a challenge to sustainable forest and biodiversity preservation in the nation.
These statements were relayed by the Minister during a meeting in Abuja on Monday, organized by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Mr. Terseer Ugbor (APC, Benue), to review the “Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024.”
He emphasized, “The hurdles confronting our environment and wildlife are significant, ranging from habitat destruction to illegal hunting and trafficking. The envisaged enactment of this bill is not just a legal duty but a moral necessity to safeguard and uphold the diverse spectrum of life that sustains us all.
“As part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the enhancement of the policy, legal, and institutional framework is crucial to our holistic strategy in combating biodiversity decline, environmental issues, and climate change. The escalating population alongside transnational crimes, specifically wildlife and forestry-related offenses, continues to exert pressure on natural resources.”
He noted, “Despite Nigeria being labeled as a transit point for wildlife trafficking, we are mindful of such crimes occurring domestically as well. The existing laws and statutes have proven insufficient in addressing this issue, which justifies the need for us to scrutinize the draft bill on the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection 2024 through policy discussions to allow stakeholders to contribute and refine the document as much as possible.”
In his address, Ugbor, representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, expressed concern about Nigeria’s recent standing as a global hotspot for wildlife trafficking, which led to his sponsorship of the bill.
He explained, “Nigeria has sadly earned the undesirable reputation as a global center for wildlife trafficking in recent times, and it still holds that position. Therefore, Nigeria must act swiftly to reverse this negative image and threat to our beautiful country and the world. Passing this legislation would represent a significant stride for global conservation efforts and Nigeria’s international reputation. Furthermore, it aligns with the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives for Nigeria’s environmental sustainability.”
Accordingly, the lawmaker from Benue highlighted that the proposed legislation aims to combat biodiversity threats in Nigeria and across Africa by establishing a consistent and robust legal framework to curb wildlife trafficking. This endeavor incorporates recommendations following an analytical review of pertinent Nigerian laws addressing wildlife trafficking conducted by Shamini Jayanathan, a criminal justice expert.
He praised the contributions of the Environmental Investigation Agency, Africa Nature Investors Foundation, and Wild Africa Fund to the bill, in addition to recognizing the support from the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Pangolin Conservation Fund.
On another note, Mr. Oliver Stolpe, the representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Nigeria, remarked on the deficiency of the current legal framework, citing inadequate penalties in wildlife crime laws.
“We have consistently acknowledged the inadequacy of the current legal framework due to the insufficient penalties in wildlife crime laws that do not adequately address the severity of these offenses. Consequently, the existing legal framework not only lacks a strong deterrent effect but also falls short of meeting the criteria for serious crime as outlined in the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
As a result, until the bill is enacted, Nigerian law enforcement agencies cannot fully enforce the provisions of the UNTOC and effectively collaborate with their foreign counterparts in countries of origin, transit, and destination.”
“The flaws in the prevailing legal setup are evident in the lenient sentences handed down to wildlife crime offenders who have been prosecuted and convicted in the past eighteen months, largely due to the diligence of the Nigeria Customs Service. The meager penalties under the current legal system can dissuade the diligent intelligence-led investigations and prosecutions that have enabled these convictions.”
Furthermore, UNODC urged the National Assembly to revise the definition of proceeds of crime.
“The National Assembly should consider revising the definition of proceeds of crime to eliminate the phrase ‘under this Act’ or include proceeds from crimes committed under the laws of other countries.
“UNODC has presented a comprehensive analysis of the bill, outlining our findings and suggestions for strengthening the legislation,” he added.