In a groundbreaking event held in Abuja, Nigeria took a firm stance against the illicit ivory trade by staging its first ivory-crushing event. Approximately 2.5 tonnes of confiscated elephant tusks and carved ivory were methodically burned in a joint effort by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation (EPIF). This strategic action is part of Nigeria’s multidimensional effort to protect its declining elephant population and combat the illegal wildlife trade.
The swift action was taken in response to Nigeria’s recent public destruction of four tons of pangolin scales, which highlights the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting animals. The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, repeated the country’s dedication and called for global cooperation to address the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking. Despite a worldwide ban implemented in 1989, the trade of ivory remains a major threat to the survival of African elephant populations, leading to a drastic decline.
The latest report on the status of African elephants presents a harsh outlook, as only 400 elephants remain in Nigeria out of an estimated 415,000 on the entire continent. Nigeria, which has a long history of being a major centre for ivory trafficking, has taken proactive measures such as establishing partnerships with other countries, strengthening law enforcement, and increasing public education.
The National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime is being implemented by the government and monitored by NESREA through the Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force (WLETF), which is a substantial effort. John Scanlon AO, the CEO of EPIF, highlighted the important role of the ivory crush in putting off illegal profits and sending a strong message against trafficking. However, he underscored the urgent need for new legislation, including a pending bill from a previous congressional session, to effectively tackle wildlife trafficking.
Nigeria has observed a rise in seizures and verdicts, which include a prison sentence of four years for possessing pangolin scales and elephant tusks illegally. The government is dedicated to stopping the trafficking of wildlife and has ongoing initiatives like the National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP). The NEAP, set to be launched later this year, was collaboratively developed with organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society (Nigeria Programme) and EPIF. Its objective is to allocate funds for elephant protection, enhance anti-poaching measures, and tackle the widespread problem of ivory trafficking.
