By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Nigerian Senate has passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and environmental crimes.
The bill, which updates and consolidates existing wildlife laws, was approved by the upper chamber on Tuesday and now awaits President Bola Tinubu’s assent to become law. The House of Representatives had earlier passed the legislation in May.
Once signed, the bill will strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework against illegal wildlife trade by increasing penalties for offenders, empowering judges to fast-track wildlife cases, and enabling asset recovery from traffickers. It also enhances investigative powers for financial tracking, intelligence-led operations, and international cooperation through extradition and alignment with global treaties.
Nigeria has over the past decade become a major hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin scales to Asian markets. Reports link the country to the smuggling of over 30 tonnes of ivory since 2015, and more than half of global pangolin scale trafficking between 2016 and 2019.
Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and sponsor of the bill, described its passage as “a huge win for Nigeria”. He said the legislation would protect the country’s forests and wildlife from exploitation, safeguarding its environment and future generations.
Environmental organisations and conservation groups have since commended the development, calling it a decisive step in tackling organised wildlife crime.
Tunde Morakinyo, Executive Director of the Africa Nature Investors Foundation, said the new law marked a “historic milestone” for Nigeria. “For too long, traffickers have used Nigeria as a transit route for illegal wildlife trade to Europe and Asia, damaging the nation’s reputation. This law will help end that destructive trade and position Nigeria as a leader in wildlife protection across Africa,” he stated.
Mary Rice, Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) UK, also lauded the legislation, saying it demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to ending wildlife crime. She, however, urged the government to ensure full and sustainable enforcement.
Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa, expressed hope that President Tinubu would promptly sign the bill into law before the UN CITES meeting in Uzbekistan next month, noting that such action would showcase Nigeria’s leadership in the global fight against wildlife trafficking.
The Africa Nature Investors Foundation, EIA UK, and Wild Africa, alongside partners such as the Pangolin Conservation Fund, the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, have long supported Nigeria’s anti-trafficking efforts.
The EIA, through the EU-funded GUARD Wildlife Project, said it would continue to support enforcement and the implementation of the new law once signed.
