The Ministry of Surroundings has introduced the destruction of about 2.5 tonnes of poached elephant tusks valued at round N9.9 billion in line with a Reuters estimate.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Surroundings, Dr. Isiaq Adekunle Salako at an occasion held in Abuja at present to publicly eliminate amassed confiscated wildlife stockpile.
Based on the Minister, Nigeria has develop into a serious transit hub for unlawful wildlife trafficking along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Burkina-Faso and Ghana.
The Minister of State acknowledged that the federal government has pulverized the tusks and intends to make the most of the powder to assemble a symbolic nationwide park monument.
This monument will function a poignant reminder of the importance of elephants within the ecosystem.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, DR. IZIAQ ADEKUNLE SALAKO, ON THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC DISPOSAL OF ACCUMULATED CONFISCATED WILDLIFE STOCKPILE IN NIGERIA HELD AT JULIUS BERGER ONEX YARD, KUBWA EXPRESS WAY, ABUJA, NIGERIA ON TUESDAY ninth JANUARY,…
— Fed Min of Data & Nat’l Orien (@FMINONigeria) January 9, 2024
He acknowledged,
- “Girls and gents, chances are you’ll bear in mind that in compliance with CITES Decision Conf. 9.10 (Rev. CoP15) and Conf, 10.7 (Rev. Cop 15) on disposal of seized and confiscated dwell and lifeless wildlife specimens, Nigeria has opted for the outright destruction of those stockpiles by way of pulverization of elephant tusks and ivories”
- “At present, a complete of about 2.5 tonnes of ivories and elephant tusk specimens will probably be destroyed underneath the watch of the Federal Ministry of Surroundings and with the assist of the Elephant Safety Initiative (EPI) African Fund, the US Embassy, United Nations Workplace on Medication and Crimes (UNODC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Wild African Fund.”
Backstory
- Though Nigeria is a signatory to CITES, it’s acknowledged as a central location for felony networks concerned in trafficking unlawful African wildlife parts, reminiscent of tusks and pangolin scales, to Asia, as reported by regulation enforcement and wildlife specialists.
- Nonetheless, the nation has intensified its efforts to fight smuggling lately. It has collaborated with British, U.S., and German officers, together with worldwide organizations, resulting in its largest confiscation of unlawful wildlife components in August 2021.
- In 2022, Nigerian customs officers efficiently seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and apprehended 14 people which have been destroyed in 2023.
