The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, has called on the National Assembly to consider the speedy passage of the endangered species bill to address the negative impact of wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Rasak Kolawole, the minister maintained that outdated laws and legislations remain one of the challenges confronting sustainable forest and biodiversity conservation in the country.
The minister made these remarks in Abuja on Monday at a policy meeting convened by the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Mr Terseer Ugbor (APC, Benue), to review the “Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024.”
He said, “You will agree with me that outdated laws and legislations remain one of the challenges confronting sustainable forest and biodiversity conservation in the country.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.
“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.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola 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.”
According to him, “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.”
In his remark, Ugbor who represents Kwande/ Ushongo, Federal Constituency, lamented the low status of Nigeria as a global hub for wildlife trafficking in recent years which he said, motivated him to sponsor the bill.
He said, “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.”
Accordingly, the Benue lawmaker said the proposed legislation is “Aimed to address threats to biodiversity in Nigeria and across Africa by providing a consistent and strong legal framework to end wildlife trafficking. In doing this, it embodies recommendations made following a consultative and collaborative analysis of relevant Nigerian laws for addressing wildlife trafficking, undertaken by Shamini Jayanathan, a criminal justice expert.”
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, Nigeria Country Office, said the current legal framework is deficient as the penalties in the laws do not accord wildlife crime the seriousness that it deserves.
“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 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Consequently, pending the adoption of the bill, Nigerian law enforcement authorities cannot fully activate the provisions of the 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.
The UNODC also tasked the National Assembly to amend the 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,” he added.
