Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, in Abuja urged environment stakeholders to collaborate to tackle forest and wildlife crimes.
The minister gave the charge at a workshop to mark the 2021 edition of World Wildlife Day organised by the ministry and the National Park Service. Abubakar said that through the ministry Nigeria was already championing the fight against illegal wildlife trade in West Africa.
He added that Nigeria valued collaborative partnerships with diplomatic missions, development partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector, which has contributed to the level of success recorded.
He said that a lot more needed to be done to achieve a significant results in tackling forest and wildlife crime, not only in Nigeria but across the West African sub-region.
In his remarks, the Conservator-General of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, charged stakeholders to ensure the protection, preservation and conservation of the planet’s vast forest resources.
He noted that there was an urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crimes and human-induced reduction of species leading to loss of habitations, illegal trade in wild animals, poaching and illegal hunting.
