By Umar Dankano,Yola.
Stakeholders have urged the federal government to ensure implementation of tougher sanctions against wildlife and forest crimes with a view to protect the life and well being of wildlife in Nigeria.
The call was made at a capacity-building workshop for High Court judges and security agencies organised under the EU and GUARD Wildlife – Global United Action to Reduce and Dismantle Wildlife Crime project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society WCS, held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
The one-day training brought together, High court judges, Magistrates, Officers of the National Park service, National Environmental Standards & Regulations Agency, NESREA, Nigeria immigration service officers,NIS, Nigeria police force, Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps and the Media.
Speaking at the event, Country Director of the Wildlife conservation society been represented by the program Manager, Mr.Teryima Uzairu said that the WCS organization has been operating in the country since 2001 with headquarters in Calabar with smaller branches in Abuja and Bauchi respectively.
Dr. Uza, noted that the training was designed to enhance the capacity of judicial officers to effectively prosecute wildlife and forest crime cases through a better understanding of relevant laws, investigative procedures, evidence management and the transnational nature of organised wildlife crime.
Uza explained further that the training with the theme “Strengthening Judiciary and Prosecutorial Response to Wildlife Crime in Nigeria.” was to also examine the legal framework for the wildlife protection and challenges in the prosecution of wildlife related offenses.
He emphasized that participants are expected to look at Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on international Trade in Endangered species of wildlife crime cases,CITES stressing that Nigeria is a signatory to international agreement aimed at protecting endangered species and regulating wildlife trade.
Declaring the training workshop open, the Adamawa state chief judge, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman represented by Justice Helen Nuhu Hammanjoda,Hafsat applauded the organizers for initiative saying it was apt and timely which will go a long way in equipping judges with a better understanding of wildlife management laws and tools required for effective adjudication of related cases.
In his submission a participant from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),Assistant Chief Scientific offic er of the Agency , ACS Sulaiman Sama’ila Dallatu, described wildlife and forest crime as a major threat to biodiversity, environmental sustainability and national development.
Dallatu noted that the illegal trade in wildlife and forest resources generates billions of dollars annually for organised criminal networks and called for stronger collaboration among the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to improve Nigeria’s response to wildlife trafficking and related offences.
Some of the participants interviewed at the venue of the training expressed con fidence that the knowledge impacted on them would improve the quality of investigations, prosecutions and judicial decisions on wildlife and forest crime cases across the country.
Our Correspondent reports that the work shop featured presentations on national laws, policies and regulations,protected species, prohibited trade and the impact of wildlife crime on biodiversity, the economy as well as national security and public health and that the program is expected to strengthen collaboration between the judiciary, conservation groups and law enforcement Agencies for improved management of wildlife crime cases.
