…..calls for collaborations and immediate action

   ….as UNODC urges FG to re-instill the love of nature in Nigerians for wildlife conservation

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to conserve wildlife’s by bridging the gap between humanity and nature through digital innovation.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said this during his keynote address at the World Wildlife day 2024, organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), themed ‘Connecting people and planet: Exploring digital innovation in wildlife conservation’, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the use of technological advancements offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance conservation efforts and forge deeper connections between humanity and the natural world.

While highlighting the challenges affecting the wildlife population, Balarabe made a call for collaborations amongst relevant stakeholders to combat wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.

He said, “As we commemorate World Wildlife Day, we must recognise the critical importance of leveraging digital solutions to address the myriad of challenges facing our planet’s ecosystems notably combating illegal wildlife trade, mitigating habitat loss, tackling the impacts of climate change among others.

“By leveraging innovative solutions, we not only amplify our capacity to protect endangered species but also foster greater connectivity between people and the planet they call home. Digital conservation transcends geographical boundaries, fostering global collaboration and knowledge sharing among scientists, conservationists, and communities worldwide. By harnessing the collective power of technology, we can unite in our efforts to safeguard biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

“Let us reaffirm our commitments as we reflect on the significance of theWorld Wildlife day, to harness the transformative potential of digital innovation in conservation. together let us strive to bridge the gap between humanity and nature, recognising that our fate is intricately intertwined with the well-being of the natural world.” Balarabe said.

Earlier, Country rep for UNODC, Nigeria, Oliver Stolpe urged the Federal Government

to re-instill the love of nature in Nigerians; noting that this would bring more lasting solutions to wildlife trafficking and conserve our biodiversity.

He noted that the recommendations of the Wildlife and Forest crime analytical toolkit report for Nigeria, ICCWC, will strengthen the legal and institutional response to wildlife and forest crime amongst others.

He said, “We are therefore particularly pleased to be able to share with you the findings and recommendations from the ICCWC Toolkit Assessment for Nigeria which was conducted by UNODC in cooperation with all relevant Nigerian authorities, under the overall lead of the Federal Ministry of Environment. The assessment examines the effectiveness of the legal and regulatory environment, as well as of the institutional capacities of specialized law enforcement, prosecution and the judiciary to prevent, detect, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate wildlife and forest crimes. As such, the assessment forms part and provides important inputs for the effective implementation of the National Strate: to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria 2022-2026, which was first launched in 2022.

“The ICCWC toolkit assessment will provide us undoubtedly with new insights and technical recommendations aimed to strengthen the legal and institutional response to wildlife and forest crime. Laws and law enforcement will not be able to deliver solutions as long as we do not manage to (re-) instill the love of nature in Nigerians. Government, religious and traditional institutions, civil society organizations, schools, the media, the entertainment industry, as well as international development partners all have an important role to play, if we want to change the hearts and minds of people and in particular of the young generation. ” he said.