By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
Minister of Environment, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, said that the federal government was more than ever committed to the international conventions and treaties for living in harmony with nature.
Abdullahi said this on Friday through his representative at the World Wildlife Day and 50 years of CITES anniversary and the launch of the Rapid Reference Guide to combat wildlife and forest crime Nigeria in Abuja.
The event was held in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Minister said that Nigeria was in the spotlight of wildlife crimes as there were vast environmental challenges affecting the country’s natural resources.
Participants expressed concerns about biodiversity loss, saying that Wildlife crime was organised crime.
The need to strategise and synergize to prosecute offenders via strengthening of the legal framework was also stressed.
Country Represantative for the UNODC, Dr. Oliver Stopped stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen her legal framework for preserving endangered species.
He encouraged participants to fully support the Wildlife Preservation Bill before the National Assembly.
Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Dauda Abari, said that the menace of wildlife abuse and molestation had become an issue for concern in most African countries.
Dr Abari said that Africa must intensify sensitisation and enlightenment to stem the tide.
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