NASS holds public hearing on Wildlife Protection Bill Oct. 24

Wild Africa says that the public hearing for the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024 has been scheduled for Oct. 24 in Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

This is contained in a statement issued by Nigeria’s Representative of Wild Africa, Mr Festus Iyorah, on Monday in Lagos.

Iyorah said that the bill was championed by Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor.

According to him, the bill tackles pressing challenges, such as illegal wildlife trade, conservation of species, and the decline of Nigeria’s precious wildlife and their habitats.

He said that the bill also seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, give investigators more powers to look into financial matters and conduct operations guided by intelligence.

Iyorah said that the bill would enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets, while also aligning with international treaties, encouraging global cooperation and introducing stricter penalties for poachers and traffickers.

“Protecting our wildlife means protecting livelihoods and ensuring a balanced ecosystem, and we can’t allow wildlife trafficking to continue to threaten our natural heritage,” Ugbor said.

According to him, the hearing will provide a platform for everybody to voice his/her opinions on the vital issue, urging everyone to participate in the conversation.

Iyorah said that the public hearing would be held jointly by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements and its Committee on the Environment.

He said that the bill had garnered significant support from local and international organisations, including Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI).

Others included: the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA) and the Wild Africa (WA), which had been actively supporting the Federal Government’s efforts at combating wildlife trafficking.

Iyorah added that Wild Africa had the support of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Pangolin Crisis Fund.