The Nigerian Senate has passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, paving the way for its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The legislation introduces stiffer penalties for wildlife crimes, strengthens enforcement mechanisms, and enhances the fight against trafficking and habitat destruction.
Originally passed by the House of Representatives, the Bill updates Nigeria’s outdated wildlife laws, increases sanctions for offenders, and empowers investigators to trace financial transactions linked to illegal wildlife trade and conduct intelligence-led operations.
It also grants judges the authority to fast-track wildlife-related cases, confiscate assets of offenders, and foster international collaboration by aligning Nigeria’s framework with global treaties and facilitating extradition processes.
According to Linus Unah, West African Director of Wild Africa, “the passing of this bill is a huge win for Nigeria and shows, without any doubt, that the government remains committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking and protecting its unique fauna and flora.”
Hon. Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and sponsor of the Bill, said: “This shows without doubt, that Nigeria remains committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking. This also means that with stronger laws, Nigeria’s forests and wildlife will now be protected from exploitation and criminal activities.”
”We are proud to see this bill move forward because protecting wildlife is tantamount to safeguarding our environment and our future.”
“In the last decade, Nigeria emerged as a major hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin sales to Asian markets, the West African country was linked to the smuggling of more than 30 tonnes of ivory since 2015 and over half of the pangolin scales trafficked globally between 2016 and 2019.
Environmental organizations have praised this latest development, saying that the Bill demonstrates Nigeria’s response to tackle serious and organised wildlife trafficking.”
Tunde Morakinyo, Executive Director of Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), noted that Nigeria has long been exploited as a key transit hub for wildlife traffickers.
He said: “The Bill aims to halt this shameful trade which is destroying our environment and ruining Nigeria’s global reputation. We salute the Nigerian Senate for taking this bold step which will make Nigeria a global leader with one of the most progressive wildlife laws for the African continent.”
