Wildlife Trade:Nigeria partners
Wildlife Trade:Nigeria partners China to End
Illegal Trade
Nigeria and China are set to strengthen bilateral relations to
tackle illegal wildlife trade in line with the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES)
This was the highpoint of a meeting between the delegations of
the two Countries led by the Minister of Environment Dr Mohammad
Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister of State for Environment, Chief
Sharon Ikeazor and the representatives of Chinese CITIES Management
Authority (CMA).
Minister of Environment, Dr Mahmood Abubakar emphasized on the
need for the two countries to work together towards addressing the
cancerous issue of illegal International wildlife trade, which
traffickers have exploited and exposed our nations to some of these
unwholesome practices that we frown at as nations and defenders of
endangered species.
Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor while
reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to the fight against illegal
wildlife trade, noted that Nigeria joined other 182 nations to sign
and ratify the International Convention on CITIES in 1974 and to
give Municipal credence to this Convention, Nigeria promulgated the
Endangered Species Decree No. 11 in 1985, which is now enacted as
Endangered Species Act 2016.
Ikeazor reaffirmed the Ministry’s role as focal point of CITIES
implementation in Nigeria and its commitment to conserve wild
Species which she observed, were now almost driven into extinction
due to over exploitation, habitat change and illicit
trafficking.
She said that was why Nigeria established National Parks across
the country in an effort to safeguard the surviving endangered
Species and called on the delegation to visit at least one before
departing the country to enable them to have a firsthand experience
on Nigeria’s effort at safeguarding our endangered Species.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government of Nigeria will
continue to put measures in place to make sure that enforcement,
compliance and implementation measures are strengthened in the
country.
Ikeazoh Praised China for taking the leading role in the
preservation of wildlife with all kinds of species, and thanked the
Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NAFGA) for
supporting Nigeria’s manpower development in the compliance and
implementation of wildlife management and CITES policy.
The Chinese Team Leader and NAFGA Vice Administrator, Li
Shumings recognized the valued partnership with Nigeria and assured
that more efforts would be made by the Chinese government to
prioritise the bilateral relationship in wildlife conservation.
Shuming stated that Chinese Government is paying more attention
to wildlife preservation by setting up the National Park Authority,
adding that they have 10 National Parks in their country to
strengthen their efforts with plans to increase the number in
future, as we have about 1,864 pandas and 293 elephants in these
parks. (END)
Saghir el- Mohammed
Director, Press
Federal Ministry of Environment