The House of Representatives, yesterday, passed its final and third reading of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, awaiting the concurrence of the Senate.
  
The historic bill, championed by the Federal Ministry of Environment and sponsored by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Terseer Ugbor, aims to tackle wildlife trafficking, protect endangered species, and ensure the country’s compliance with global conservation treaties, as well as introduce strict penalties for offenders.
   
The bill enhances the nation’s response to serious and organised wildlife trafficking and introduces stricter penalties for wildlife crime. It provides investigators with greater authority to probe financial transactions and conduct intelligence-led operations.
   
It also seeks to empower judges to expedite wildlife cases and recover assets, while equally promoting international collaboration by aligning with global treaties.
   
Ugbor said: “This bill sends an unambiguously clear message that Nigeria will not tolerate the use of its borders for trafficking of illegal wildlife products, such as pangolin scales and ivory, to foreign markets. By modernising our laws, we want to ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from the ecological and economic value of our biodiversity.”
  
Nigeria has emerged as a major hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin to Asian markets. The West African country has been linked to the smuggling of more than 30 tonnes of ivory since 2015, and over half of the pangolin scales seized globally between 2016 and 2019.
   
Environmental organisations have lauded the bill’s progression, highlighting its potential to tackle illegal wildlife trade.  

Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI) Executive Director, Tunde Morakinyo, stated that the steady progress of the bill was a testament to the country’s firm commitment to strengthening wildlife governance, combating wildlife trafficking, and positioning itself as a leader in conservation.
  
“The lawmakers and leadership of the House of Representatives deserve commendation for their vision, dedication, and commitment to this crucial step towards protecting Nigeria’s environment and its wildlife,” he said.
  
The Executive Director of London-based Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA UK), Mary Rice, welcomed the development.
  
Also, the CEO of Wild Africa (WA), Peter Knights, noted: “This is a great step forward for Nigeria to lead the region in combating wildlife crime.”