By Abdullahi Lukman
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, at its third reading, advancing a major step in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Bill, now headed to the Senate for concurrence, introduces tougher penalties for wildlife crimes and equips authorities with enhanced powers to investigate financial transactions and conduct intelligence-driven operations.
It also allows judges to fast-track wildlife crime cases and recover related assets.
Sponsored by Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, the legislation aligns with international treaties and aims to strengthen Nigeria’s wildlife governance.
Ugbor stated that the bill sends a clear message that Nigeria will no longer be a safe haven for trafficking in pangolin scales, ivory, and other illegal wildlife products.
Nigeria has gained notoriety as a trafficking hub, linked to over 30 tonnes of smuggled ivory since 2015 and more than half of the global seizures of pangolin scales between 2016 and 2019.
The new law is intended to reverse this trend and secure the country’s biodiversity for future generations.
Environmental organisations welcomed the bill’s progress. Tunde Morakinyo, Executive Director of Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), praised lawmakers for their commitment to wildlife conservation.
Similar commendations came from Mary Rice of the Environmental Investigation Agency UK and Peter Knights of Wild Africa, who described the bill as a landmark step toward regional leadership in tackling wildlife crime.
The Bill has received support from international partners including the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Pangolin Conservation Fund.
Once passed by the Senate, the legislation will be forwarded to the President for final approval.