The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called for urgent and coordinated action to halt the decline of Nigeria’s vulture population.

The foundation made the call in a statement to mark the 2026 International Vulture Awareness Day.

The foundation warned that illegal killing, trafficking and trade in vulture parts could drive the birds to extinction.

NCF said four of the seven vulture species found in Nigeria are classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

It listed the species as Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture and White-headed Vulture.

According to the foundation, the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) has suffered an estimated 95 per cent decline since the early 2000s.

It said Nigeria had also emerged as a major hub for the regional trade in vulture parts, with an estimated 73 per cent of vulture carcasses traded across West Africa passing through Nigerian markets.

The statement quoted Dr Joseph Onoja, Director-General, NCF, as saying that the crisis required immediate intervention from government, conservation organisations and communities.

“The crisis facing vultures is not happening somewhere far away. Nigeria is at the centre of this regional conservation challenge, including the illegal trade in vulture parts.

“We cannot continue to lose these birds to poisoning, illegal killing and trafficking and expect our ecosystems to remain healthy,” Onoja said.

The NCF said the West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan (WAVCAP) identified Nigeria and Benin as key hubs for cross-border vulture trade.

It said cases of vulture killing for belief-based use had been reported across the 16 countries covered by the plan.

The foundation stressed that the transboundary nature of the trade required stronger cooperation among countries, law enforcement agencies, conservation organisations and local communities.

It explained that vultures played a critical ecological role by rapidly consuming animal carcasses and organic waste, thereby helping to keep the environment clean.

According to NCF, the birds also help limit the spread of diseases from dead animals to humans and wildlife.

It noted that vulture populations had declined by between 80 and 97 per cent across Africa over the past five decades, leaving several species at risk of extinction.

To address the situation, NCF urged the Federal Government to strengthen enforcement of existing wildlife protection laws.

It also called for increased monitoring of markets involved in the illegal vulture trade and implementation of the adopted WAVCAP.

The foundation further advocated the establishment of Vulture Safe Zones and enforcement of measures to prevent poisoning while protecting key feeding and breeding areas.

NCF said the measures should be supported by collaboration among government agencies, conservation organisations, traditional medicine practitioners, communities and neighbouring countries.

It specifically identified Niger, Benin and Cameroon as key countries requiring stronger collaboration with Nigeria.

The foundation said addressing the crisis required action across the entire conservation chain, including research, population monitoring, law enforcement and demand reduction.

NCF said it had engaged traditional medicine practitioners to promote understanding of vultures’ ecological importance and encourage plant-based alternatives for belief-based practices.

It added that it was conducting satellite tagging, population surveys, conservation education and community engagement to map threats and strengthen local support for vulture protection.

Onoja urged Nigerians to reject the purchase and use of illegally sourced vulture parts and avoid patronising wildlife traders.

“We are calling on Nigerians to reject the purchase or use of illegally sourced vulture parts, avoid patronising wildlife traders, and report suspected wildlife crimes to the relevant authorities,” he said.

NCF reaffirmed its commitment to working with government, communities, researchers, traditional institutions, law enforcement agencies and conservation organisations to halt the decline of Nigeria’s vultures.

It said the collaboration was necessary to secure a future in which the birds could continue to perform their vital ecological role across the country.