Nigeria Passes New Wildlife Protection Law
The Nigerian Parliament recently approved comprehensive legislation aimed at safeguarding endangered wildlife from illegal trafficking. Once signed by the president, offenders could face fines up to 12 million naira ($8,300) and prison terms of up to 10 years for trafficking products such as elephant ivory and pangolin scales.
Significance of the New Bill
Known as the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024, the law was passed by the Senate on October 28. It is considered one of the strictest legal frameworks to combat wildlife crime in West Africa and strengthens Nigeria’s alignment with global conservation agreements, including CITES.
“This new bill addresses long-existing gaps in our legal framework,” said Terseer Ugbor, the bill’s sponsor and deputy chairman of the House Committee on Environment. “The old law was riddled with ambiguities. It failed to specify whether its provisions applied only to international wildlife trade or also to domestic transactions.”
Key Improvements and Challenges
- The legislation broadens the list of protected species.
- It increases penalties as a deterrent against wildlife trafficking.
- Court systems are empowered to freeze assets linked to wildlife crimes.
Despite these advances, experts caution that weak enforcement could undermine the law's effectiveness, potentially reducing it to a symbolic victory without real impact.
Author’s Summary
Nigeria’s new wildlife law marks a critical step against poaching, but its success hinges on strengthening enforcement to ensure real protection for endangered species.
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