Abuja: The Federal Government has called for stronger sanctions against wildlife crimes, saying inadequate punishment has contributed to the depletion of Nigeria’s wildlife population. The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, emphasized this at the eighth Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society of Nigeria (WISON) held in Abuja on Thursday. The event was organized in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawal highlighted that several wildlife species, once abundant in the 1960s, have either disappeared or become endangered due to bushmeat consumption and indiscriminate killing. He emphasized the necessity of implementing sanctions that can deter people from killing or trafficking wildlife, particularly elephants and other endangered species.
The minister also advocated for the introduction of wildlife crime studies at the undergraduate level in Nigerian universities, especially within law and other relevant faculties. He pointed out that most Nigerian lawyers and judges lack specialized training in environmental and wildlife crimes, making undergraduate education crucial for building expertise.
Lawal stressed the importance of protecting wildlife as an integral part of Nigeria’s flora and fauna for both current and future generations. He urged environmental experts and academics to extend their activities beyond universities by engaging with forest communities, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
Additionally, Lawal recognized the media as a key partner in raising awareness and ensuring accurate reporting of wildlife conservation and environmental issues. He pledged to collaborate with relevant organizations to explore funding opportunities and provide resources necessary to strengthen wildlife conservation and combat environmental crimes.
The minister noted that countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Australia have made significant investments in wildlife conservation and called for stronger support for similar efforts in Nigeria. He commended environmental experts for their efforts and stressed that protecting wildlife requires collaboration among government, academics, communities, media, and conservation organizations.
Prof. Omotola Jayeola, President of WISON, stated that the society provides a professional voice for wildlife practitioners, advocating policies and guidelines that protect Nigeria’s natural heritage. He mentioned that WISON’s eighth annual conference, themed ‘Human-Wildlife Interactions and Sustainable Protected Area Management,’ gathered professionals, practitioners, scientists, and civil society organizations to promote wildlife conservation.
Jayeola also highlighted the society’s intervention when elephants strayed into Oyo State, particularly Saki, where they assessed impacts on farmers and engaged relevant government agencies to ensure the animals’ protection. He praised the National Park Service and Federal Ministry of Environment for supporting the conference, adding that WISON would continue to strengthen collaboration and honor stakeholders contributing to environmental stewardship.
Dr. Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of NPS, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable wildlife conservation and protected-area management. He noted that national parks serve as engines of biodiversity conservation but exist within landscapes shared with communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources, requiring mutually beneficial relationships.
Goni emphasized that addressing human-wildlife conflict involves understanding its drivers, mapping hotspots, strengthening early-warning systems, developing mitigation mechanisms, promoting alternative livelihoods, and deploying technology for effective conservation.