Buhari Approves Institution Of 10 New Nationwide Parks In Nigeria

The Nigerian authorities has reiterated its dedication to lowering the demand for unlawful bushmeat and curbing unlawful wildlife commerce within the nation. To perform this, President Muhammadu Buhari has permitted the institution of ten new nationwide parks within the nation.

The event was made public on Thursday, January 6, 2022, by the Minister of State for Setting, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor.

Ikeazor whereas delivering her keynote speech on the official launch of the most important wildlife conservation marketing campaign in Africa by WildAid, stated a proactive measure wanted to be taken to reverse the pattern of overexploitation of those pure sources.

In response to the Minister, poaching, possessing, taking, buying and selling and consumption of those animals have put Nigeria within the highlight of wildlife crime.

The marketing campaign tagged ‘Hold them wild, preserve us protected’ can also be aimed toward elevating consciousness of wildlife conservation within the nation.

The occasion had in attendance the Lagos State Commissioner for Well being, Prof. Akin Abayomi, WildAid President, Peter Knights OBE, the Director-Common of Nationwide Environmental Requirements and Laws Enforcement Company, Prof. Aliyu Jauro and representatives from the Nigerian Centre for Illness Management, Nigerian Customs Companies and different associated businesses.

Talking additional on the occasion held at Lagos Oriental Lodge, Ikeazor stated because of the menace confronted by the 309 threatened wildlife species just like the pangolins, lions, elephants, manatees and others, President Buhari has consented to the institution of 10 nationwide parks from the prevailing forest reserves in Nigeria.

The Minister counseled the collaborative effort of WildAid in tackling unlawful wildlife commerce in Nigeria, stating that efforts comparable to theirs would assist curb the menace.

Ikeazor berated what number of Nigerians exploit and eat these bush meats.

She confused that it poses environmental dangers and is a menace to public well being. Ikeazor additionally famous with dismay that Nigeria has been tagged a transit hub for unlawful wildlife actions.

“We’re all culprits of bushmeat consumption as it’s a phenomenon in each rural and concrete communities, posing environmental dangers and extinction of threatened species.

“In-country and transborder trafficking is sort of alarming, and Nigeria has been tagged a ‘transit hub’ for this illegality.

“The phenomenon additionally constitutes excessive safety danger, public well being danger with the unfold of zoonotic ailments comparable to Lassa Fever, Ebola Virus, and not too long ago COVID-19,” Ikeazor maintained.

She, nonetheless, restated the federal government’s dedication to guard, restore and promote the sustainable use of the Nigerian biodiversity by means of the required businesses and collaborations.

In his comment, the founder and president of WildAid, Peter Knights, famous that there are lower than 50 lions, 100 gorillas, 500 elephants and a pair of,300 chimpanzees left within the wild in Nigeria with no surviving cheetahs, rhinoceros, or giraffes.

Knights, nonetheless, believes that Nigeria can “flip issues round for wildlife and turn out to be a regional chief in wildlife safety, which may enhance the economic system by means of tourism and safeguard the Nigerian public from zoonotic ailments.”

He said that WildAid goals to interact the youths and center class within the marketing campaign to avoid wasting Nigeria’s wildlife.

Lagos State Commissioner for Well being, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who additionally spoke on the occasion, asserted that organic threats such because the Ebola virus and COVID-19 are clear penalties of disruption of nature.

He said that if we continued the trail of destroying this steadiness with out a main reversal, “we’re inducing an existential menace situation.”

As a part of its marketing campaign in Nigeria, WildAid is poised to assist Nigeria implement its wildlife legal guidelines by forming partnerships with the media and authorities businesses concerned in imposing each native and worldwide wildlife laws to create a unified strategy to tackling bushmeat consumption and unlawful wildlife commerce.