The bill addressing wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction passed its second reading in the House of Representatives during Thursday’s plenary session.
Hon. Terseer Ugbor, the bill’s sponsor and representative for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, explained the bill’s general principles, noting that the illegal wildlife trade and trafficking are becoming increasingly dangerous, necessitating legislative action to stop this menace.
Ugbor, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, emphasized that the 10th National Assembly must address pressing issues like illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and the decline of Nigeria’s unique wildlife populations, aligning the country with global best practices.
He stated that Nigeria’s legal framework on wildlife needs a review to effectively combat poachers and traffickers, who are a significant challenge.
“The bill aims to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, grant investigators more power to examine financial matters and conduct intelligence-led operations, and enable judges to expedite wildlife cases and recover assets,” he explained. “It also aligns with international treaties, fosters global cooperation, and introduces stringent penalties for poachers and traffickers.
“By taking a stand against illegal activities targeting our wildlife and forests, we protect our future. This bill represents our commitment to counter the use of our borders for trafficking illegal wildlife products such as pangolin scales and elephant ivory.
“A combination of lack of public awareness, weak legislation, and minimal enforcement has hindered efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and biodiversity loss in Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria’s wildlife has significantly declined, with species like lions, elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees nearing extinction,” Ugbor added.
After contributions from other members affirming the importance of protecting endangered species in line with international treaties, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu passed the bill for a second reading upon a vote. He then referred it to the House Committee on Environment, instructing them to submit their report within two weeks.