Rep. Ugbor decried the low status of Nigeria as a global hub for wildlife trafficking in recent years which is his motivation for sponsoring the Bill.
The Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Abbas has expressed willingness to support the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the endangered species bill to combat the menace of wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
The Minister made these remarks in Abuja on Monday at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Deputy Chairman Committee on Environment, Rep. Terseer Ugbor (APC, Benue) to review the “Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024”
Represented by Mr. Rasak Kolawole Deputy Director, Forestry, the Minister echoed that outdated laws and legislations remain one of the challenges confronting sustainable forest and biodiversity conservation in the country.
“It affords me a great pleasure to stand here to address this important gathering today being the policy dialogue review of the Bill on the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection, 2024 which can be best described as a child of necessity in view of the emerging scenarios and the need to keep pace with the current realities,” he stated.
“You will agree with me that outdated laws and legislations remain one of the challenges confronting sustainable forest and biodiversity conservation in the country. And the imperatives of addressing this particular challenge underscore the important cordial relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of Government. As you can see here today, the Federal Ministry of Environment is privileged to be enjoying such cordiality.
“The challenges facing our environment and wildlife are substantial, ranging from habitat loss to poaching and illegal trafficking. The anticipated passage of this bill is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative to protect and preserve the rich tapestry of life that sustains us all.”
He further explained that the strengthening of the legal framework is pivotal to tackling biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental challenges.
“Pursuant to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, strengthening of the policy, legal and institutional framework is pivotal to our national approach to tackling biodiversity loss, environmental challenges, and climate change. Increasing population coupled with transboundary crime, particularly wildlife and forestry crime has continued to mount pressure on the natural resources.”
“Although Nigeria is being dubbed as a transit point for wildlife trafficking, we are not losing sight of such crime being perpetrated domestically. The various subsisting laws and legislation have proven to be inadequate in addressing this problem and this explains why we are here today to subject the draft Bill on the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection 2024 to policy dialogue, thereby giving opportunity for stakeholders to contribute and make the document impeccable as much as possible.”
Speaking earlier, Rep. Ugbor decried the low status of Nigeria as a global hub for wildlife trafficking in recent years which is his motivation for sponsoring the Bill as he expressed concern over the illegal activities of poachers and smugglers in Nigeria, even as he called for action to stop the trend.
“Nigeria has emerged with the unenviable status as a global hub for wildlife trafficking in recent years and continues to be considered as one. Nigeria must therefore act swiftly and work to reverse this negative status and threat to our beautiful country and the world. The passage of this legislation will mark a major milestone for global conservation efforts and Nigeria’s international image. The passage of this bill will also advance the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives for Nigeria’s environmental sustainability.”
Highlighting the importance of the dialogue, the lawmaker stressed that there was the need to ensure that Nigeria’s biodiversity is supported by strong and comprehensive endangered species legislation, saying “Nigeria is also a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora obligating the strengthening of our legal framework for biodiversity conservation and this bill seeks to give effect to those obligations.
“Although not strictly a requirement of the lawmaking process, this policy dialogue is necessary to harmonise stakeholders’ position on the bill and clear the way for its expeditious approval and adoption as law.”
He commended the Environmental Investigation Agency, Africa Nature Investors Foundation, and Wild Africa Fund for their input in the bill even as he acknowledged the donations of the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, as well as the Pangolin Conservation Fund.
On his part, Mr. Oliver Stolpe, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office, Nigeria said the current legal framework is deficient as the penalties in the laws do not accord wildlife crime the seriousness that it deserves.
“It gives me great pleasure to join you all today for this Policy Dialogue on the Review of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024.” he declared.
“We have long acknowledged that the current legal framework is deficient as the penalties in the laws do not accord wildlife crime the seriousness that it deserves. As a result, the present legal framework has not only limited deterrent effect, but also does not meet the threshold of the serious crime definition in the UN (United Nations) Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). Consequently, pending the adoption of the Bill, Nigerian law enforcement authorities cannot fully activate the provisions of the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC) and cooperate effectively with their counterparts in countries of origin, transit and destination.
“The weaknesses of the current legal framework are exemplified in the minimal sentences handed down to wildlife crime perpetrators who have been prosecuted and convicted in the past year and a half, thanks in part to the assiduousness of the Nigeria Customs Service. The low penalties in the current legal framework are such that they can be discouraging to the dedicated intelligence-led investigations and prosecutions that have made these convictions possible.
“It is therefore an important milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat wildlife and forest crime that we are gathered at this policy dialogue to review the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, which will significantly improve the legal framework.
“This aligns with the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime which was launched in 2022, and most recently the findings and recommendations of the International Consortium for Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) Analytical Toolkit Assessment for Nigeria. One of the key findings of the assessment was the weakness of the legal framework and the need to increase the penalties for wildlife crimes and there was a specific recommendation of support for the enactment of this Bill.”
The UNODC also tasked the National Assembly to amend the definition of proceeds of crime.
“Definition of proceeds of crime: The National Assembly may wish to amend the definition of “proceeds of crime” to remove the words “under this Act” or otherwise provide that the term includes proceeds of crimes committed under the laws of other countries.
“UNODC has submitted a comprehensive paper on the Bill which articulates our observations and recommendations on strengthening the Bill.”
