By Abigael Joshua

The National Park Service (NPS) has underscored the need for all stakeholders to synergize to conserve Nigeria’s wildlife from extinction.

Dr Ibrahim Goni the Conservator-General (C-G), who was represented by Dr Mohammed Kabir, Assistant Conservator-General (AC-G) Ecology and Resource Management said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

He stressed the importance of wildlife, noting that without wildlife, humanity could not exist.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the theme of the 2024 World Wildlife Day is: “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”.

He said the 2024 wildlife day was celebrated to create awareness on the need to preserve wildlife; especially animals and plants from extinction.

“When we say wildlife, we are not talking of animals alone. It includes the plants because today we are talking of climate change, deforestation and all the actions we create to harm the environment.

“So, we need to protect these natural resources for future reference.

“We want to imbibe the culture of conservation in the young ones hence the need for the quiz competition amongst secondary schools students.

“We want them to know the importance of the environment and the need to plant trees to mitigate climate change that is why we have conservation clubs in these schools,” he said.

The C-G expressed optimism that the young students would in future make policies that would address climate change in the country when they become policy makers.

On his part, Oliver Stolpe, the Country Representative for UNODC, Nigeria, noted that the importance of preserving and protecting Nigeria’s rich biodiversity had some key findings from the Wildlife Chapter of UNODC’s Organised Crime Threat Assessment for Nigeria published in 2023.

“The assessment found that Nigeria is a key transit hub and consolidation point for various forms of illegal trade in wildlife and forest products, especially for pangolin, ivory and rosewood,” Stolpe said.

“These products are sourced both from Nigeria as well as from other countries in the region including Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic.

According to UNODC’s World Wildlife Seizures Database, there are more than a thousand records between 2011 and 2020 which indicate Nigeria as a source, transit or destination country, or where the offender was a Nigerian national.

He commended the Nigeria Customs Service pointing out that seizures at Nigeria’s land, sea and airport border points had been on the rise as two thirds of all seizures involving Nigeria were reported by the authorities of other countries.

NAN further reports that a road walk and quiz competition where six secondary schools were represented organised by NPS in commemoration of the 2024 wildlife day on March 4.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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