The Federal Authorities of Nigeria has introduced plans to boost surveillance on the nation’s airports, seaports, and land borders to forestall future makes an attempt and acts of unlawful wildlife trafficking.
This was disclosed in a press release signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of International Affairs, Abuja, on Saturday, twenty ninth March, 2025.
The assertion is in response to a child gorilla smuggled from Nigeria however was found by Turkish authorities throughout a routine inspection on the host nation’s airport.
Based on the assertion, the Federal Authorities of Nigeria is working intently with related Turkish authorities for the secure return of the endangered child gorilla, which was intercepted at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, on 22 December 2024.
“The gorilla, which was reported to have been smuggled from Nigeria and on transit to Bangkok, Thailand, was found by Turkish authorities throughout a routine inspection,” the assertion partly reads.
Ebienfa harassed that trafficking of wildlife and particularly endangered species is a prison and unlawful act which clearly violates each nationwide and worldwide legal guidelines, together with the Conference on Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“The newborn gorilla is assessed beneath CITES Appendix l, as critically endangered, and any commerce on this species are strictly prohibited besides beneath distinctive circumstances for conservation or scientific functions,” the assertion added.
“Consequently, the Authorities will improve surveillance on the nation’s airports, seaports and land borders to forestall future makes an attempt and acts of unlawful wildlife trafficking,” the assertion partly reads.
The Federal Authorities additionally recommended the efforts of the Turkish authorities in intercepting this unlawful trafficking whereas directing the Nigerian Embassy in Ankara to proceed to interface with the host authorities to make sure the secure return of the infant gorilla to Nigeria.
The ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to biodiversity conservation and the safety of endangered wildlife species according to world environmental treaties, including it could evolve proactive modalities to make sure that perpetrators of such illicit actions are met with the total drive of the regulation.
Wild Africa, a wildlife conservation organisation, not too long ago projected that Nigeria’s journey and tourism sector will create 2.6 million new jobs over the subsequent decade and generate practically N12.3 trillion ($8.2 billion) by 2032.
Festus Iyorah, Nigeria’s Consultant at Wild Africa, disclosed this in a press release throughout the World Wildlife Day 2025 occasion in Lagos.
He emphasised the necessity for elevated funding in wildlife conservation to drive {economic} development and shield Nigeria’s iconic species.
Though Nigeria is a signatory to various wildlife treaties and legal guidelines, it’s acknowledged as a central location for prison networks concerned in trafficking unlawful African wildlife parts, resembling tusks and pangolin scales, to Asia, as reported by regulation enforcement and wildlife specialists.
Nevertheless, the nation has intensified its efforts to fight smuggling in recent times.
It has collaborated with British, U.S., and German officers, together with worldwide organizations, resulting in its largest confiscation of unlawful wildlife components in August 2021.
In 2022, Nigerian customs officers efficiently seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and apprehended 14 people, which have been destroyed in 2023.
