The Nigerian federal government has announced plans to use the wildlife and forest crime analytic toolkit to combat illegal wildlife trade and commercial poaching.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, declared this at the official presentation of the toolkit in Abuja, stating that it will aid in improving the criminal justice system and achieving the government’s mission, vision, and global commitments to nature.
The wildlife and forest crime analytic toolkit is seen as a complete tool for fighting wildlife and forest crimes, which have resulted in over 1000 species facing extinction due to human activities.
To reverse this trend and address climate change, stakeholders recently gathered in Abuja to discuss the adoption of the toolkit in Nigeria.
According to the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs country representative, Oliver Stolpes, source and destination countries need to collaborate in combating wildlife and forest crimes.
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He emphasized that the legal framework in place has gaps, particularly concerning penalties and the need for investigators, prosecutors, and judges to have more capacities and resources to enforce an effective and credible criminal justice system.
Dr. Sabri Macawi, the Head of Climate Change of the EU delegation, who sponsored the toolkit, stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders and the importance of the toolkit.
He noted that the toolkit would help Nigerian legislators choose the right options for the country and compare its needs with what is proposed in the series of options provided.
The wildlife in Nigeria is primarily poached for bushmeat, which is a very lucrative market fueled by a weak criminal justice system. The use of the wildlife and forest crime analytic toolkit is expected to upscale efforts to combat wildlife and forest crimes in Nigeria.
