The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the Wildlife Justice Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen wildlife protection and combat organised trafficking in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday at NESREA’s headquarters in Abuja by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, and the WJC’s Chief of Investigations, Stephen Carmody, represented by Abim Isafiade, the Regional Manager for West and Central Africa.
Meanwhile, the newly signed MoU will strengthen intelligence-sharing, enhance forensic and legal collaboration, and support future programmes under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.
The MoU reflects a shared commitment by NESREA and the WJC to disrupt wildlife crime, dismantle transnational criminal networks, and ensure that organised crime is no longer driving species to extinction.
The development comes months after Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024, which aims to curb organised wildlife trafficking and provide stronger protection for endangered species.
Nigeria has long been identified as a key transit hub in the global illegal wildlife trade.
Findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Organised Crime Threat Assessment for Nigeria (2023) revealed the country’s central role in the trafficking of pangolins, ivory, and rosewood, among other species and forest products.
Speaking during the signing, Prof. Barikor said, “This MoU aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and demonstrates our government’s determination to protect biodiversity, conserve threatened species, and ensure sustainably managed wildlife resources for future generations.
“NESREA is committed to working hand-in-hand with the WJC to ensure that Nigeria does not serve as a haven or transit hub for wildlife traffickers. Together, we will make it increasingly difficult for those who profit from the destruction of our natural heritage.”
On her part, the Executive Director of the WJC, Olivia Swaak-Goldman, said the collaboration with NESREA would bring fresh vigour into wildlife enforcement activities in the country.
“By expanding our partnerships to include NESREA and the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force, we can sustain and deepen this transformation — ensuring that Nigeria continues to set the benchmark for intelligence-led enforcement,” she said
