Wild Africa has urged the Federal Government to expedite passage of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill to safeguard pangolins from extinction.
The group made the call in a statement marking World Pangolin Day, stressing the urgent need for stronger wildlife protection laws in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was signed by Mr Festus Iyorah, Nigeria Representative of Wild Africa on Saturday in Lagos.
Iyorah said that Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals despite protection under national laws and the 2016 international commercial trade ban by CITES.
He said that high demand for pangolin scales for traditional medicine and meat consumption continues to fuel illegal trafficking across Africa and Asia.
He stressed that a conservation data linked Nigeria to 55 per cent of global pangolin scale seizures between 2016 and 2019.
He said that a 2025 global report by the International Union for Conservation of Naturs (IUCN) Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group for the CITES Secretariat highlighted persistent illegal trade.
The report recorded 530,978 pangolins in 2,222 seizures globally between 2016 and 2024.
It stated that pangolin scales accounted for 99 per cent of confiscated parts.
He recalled that Nigeria introduced the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill in 2024 to impose stricter penalties for wildlife trafficking.
He added that the ç bill is currently awaiting final presidential assent.
He said that in December 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service seized 2.179 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested a suspected broker.
“Since July 2021, customs operations led to 35 arrests, 12 convictions and seizures totalling 21.582 tonnes of pangolin scales,” the statement said.
Dr Mark Ofua, West Africa spokesperson for Wild Africa, said Nigeria must act decisively to protect its biodiversity.
“Nigeria is a custodian of precious biodiversity, but our pangolins are being trafficked into extinction,” Ofua said.
He described speedy passage of the pending bill as critical to strengthening enforcement and deterring wildlife crimes.
Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa, called for increased awareness and enforcement across Africa.
He said pangolins’ slow reproduction rates make them highly vulnerable to exploitation. (NAN)
