By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Oct. 29, ’25 (TNZ) The Nigerian Senate has passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024 and will now be forwarded to the President for his assent.
TheNewsZenith reports that Mr Festus Iyorah, Nigeria Representative at Wild Africa announced this via a press statement circulated on Wednesday in Lagos.
Iyorah stated that the Houseof Representatives had earlier passed the bill in May this year.
According to him, the Bill updates existing wildlife laws and increases penalties for wildlife crimes.
”It also provides greater authority to investigators to probe financial transactions and conduct intelligence-led operations.
”The bill, he added, also empowers judges to expedite wildlife cases and recover assets of offender.
”It equally promotes international collaboration by aligning with global treaties and allowing extradition of offenders,” TheNewsZenith qoutes Festus Iyorah as stating.
He said that, in the last decade, Nigeria emerged as a major hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin scales to Asian markets.
He noted that Nigeria 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.
Iyorah said that environmental organisations have praised the latest development.
”They say the Bill demonstrates Nigeria’s response to tackling organised wildlife trafficking.
Mr Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, sponsored the bill.
Ugbor said the passage of the bill was a huge win for Nigeria.
Read Related News:
”It shows that we remain committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking and protecting our unique fauna and flora.
“Stronger laws mean 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,” TheNewsZenith quotes Ugbor as saying.
Mr Tunde Morakinyo, Executive Director, Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, remarked that the passage of the bill signified a momentous day.
“Traffickers have used Nigeria as a transit country for the illegal wildlife trade for too long.
”They have been bringing endangered wildlife from all over Africa through our porous borders, ports and airports to export them illegally to Europe and Asia.
“The Bill aims to halt this shameful trade which is destroying our environment and ruins 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,” Morakinyo said.
In his remarks. Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa (WA), pleaded for a speedy presidential assent for the
“We hope the President will move quickly to sign this bill.
“The UN CITES meeting on trade in endangered species meets at the end of November in Uzbekistan and to have this bill enacted before then would be a tremendous feather in the President’s and country’s caps.
“It would show the administration’s commitment to playing a leading role in fighting wildlife crime,” TheNewsZenith quotesKnights as saying. (TNZ)
Do you have a flair for Citizenship Journalism? Share stories of local happenings with TheNewsZenith on WhatsApp: +2348033668669. For more scintillating news, visit our website: www.thenewszenith.com. Also follow us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thenewszenithOnline, Facebook: www.facebook.com/@thenewszenithonline & Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@thenewszenithonline
