As Nigeria awaits President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024, environmentalists say the nation stands on the verge of a historic breakthrough in wildlife protection and sustainable development.
The bill, proposed by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, and backed by partners such as Wild Africa, the Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), and the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), represents a transformative moment in Nigeria’s environmental journey.
Once signed into law, it will overhaul outdated wildlife legislation, impose stricter penalties on offenders, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and align Nigeria’s conservation framework with international standards.
ALSO: Wild Africa, other Stakeholders Laud Senate Approval of Nigerian Wildlife Protection Bill
It’s a long-awaited step in a country that, for decades, served as a transit hub for illegal wildlife trade ,from pangolin scales and ivory to bushmeat ,costing the nation its rich biodiversity and tarnishing its international reputation.
A Major Legislative Milestone
Following its passage by the House of Representatives in May 2025 and recent approval by the Senate, the bill’s final journey now lies on the President’s desk. For stakeholders, the significance cannot be overstated.
“This is a huge win for Nigeria,” said Hon. Terseer Ugbor. “It shows, without any doubt, that we remain committed to stamping out wildlife trafficking and protecting our unique fauna and flora. Protecting wildlife is tantamount to safeguarding our environment and our future.”
Environmental groups have hailed the Senate’s action as a monumental stride toward conservation reform.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Wild Africa’s Nigeria Representative, Mr. Festus Iyorah, described the approval as “a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment to sustainable wildlife protection and its determination to stop criminal elements from using Nigeria as a hub for illegal trade.”
The bill introduces far-reaching reforms — empowering judges to expedite wildlife-related cases, confiscate offenders’ assets, and promote international collaboration through extradition treaties and intelligence sharing. It also grants investigators the authority to trace financial transactions tied to wildlife crime, a feature long demanded by anti-trafficking agencies.
Global Support and Partnership
The Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI) and EIA UK have been instrumental in pushing for these reforms. ANI’s Executive Director, Mr. Tunde Morakinyo, said the bill would “tighten Nigeria’s borders and drastically reduce their vulnerability to wildlife trafficking.”
“For too long, traffickers have exploited our ports, borders, and airports to move endangered species,” he said. “This law seeks to halt that shameful trade that destroys our environment and damages our reputation. It positions Nigeria among Africa’s most progressive nations on wildlife protection.”
EIA UK’s Executive Director, Mary Rice, called the passage “a significant milestone and a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to transition from being a hub for wildlife crime to becoming a leader in combating it.”
“Congratulations to all those who worked tirelessly on this journey,” she added. “It is imperative that this law be implemented effectively by investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary to bring traffickers to justice.”
Wild Africa CEO, Peter Knights OBE, urged President Tinubu to expedite his assent, noting that “signing the bill before the UN CITES meeting in Uzbekistan would showcase Nigeria’s leadership in the global fight against wildlife crime.”
Why It Matters
Nigeria has, in recent years, been identified as one of the world’s largest transit hubs for illegal wildlife products ,particularly pangolin scales and ivory. Between 2016 and 2019, over half of the world’s trafficked pangolin scales passed through Nigerian ports.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the country was linked to seizures totaling over 30 tons of ivory between 2015 and 2021.
Experts believe the new law could reverse this grim statistic and place Nigeria firmly on the path to sustainable conservation.
But recent incidents, like the killing of an endangered hippopotamus in Edo State in August 2025, underscore how far the country still has to go.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) condemned the killing by local vigilantes, describing it as a tragic blow to the nation’s dwindling wildlife population.
“The hippo’s death did not happen in a vacuum,” said Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General of NCF. “It is the consequence of habitat destruction and climate-driven changes. The collapse of freshwater ecosystems and human encroachment have brought wildlife into conflict with people, often ending in tragedy.”
Only about 100 hippos remain in Nigeria today. Conservationists fear that without stronger law enforcement and community education, more endangered species could vanish , just as the pygmy hippopotamus, once native to the Niger Delta, has already done.
A Broader Environmental Awakening
The Wildlife Bill’s momentum reflects a wider environmental awakening sweeping across Nigeria ,a green revolution driven by government policy, civil society, and youth advocacy.
In the last five years, Nigeria’s environmental priorities have shifted dramatically. The Federal Ministry of Environment received ₦86.44 billion in the 2023 budget , up from ₦46 billion in 2021, signaling renewed political will. States like Lagos and Abia have introduced bans on single-use plastics and modern waste-to-energy projects.
Civil society organizations like NCF continue to lead grassroots conservation through the Green Recovery Nigeria initiative, which aims to restore 25% of the country’s lost forest cover. Corporate partners like Fidelity Bank, Chevron, and the Nigerian Bottling Company are also integrating environmental action into their CSR agendas.
Culture and Music Join the Movement
Even the creative industry has joined the campaign for nature’s survival. In July 2025, Wild Africa and OAS1SONE launched the “Music for Wildlife” global series , an electrifying concert collaboration featuring over 150 African artists including CKay, Focalistic, Shekhinah, Azawi, and Joyous Celebration.
The initiative, supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), uses music to inspire youth action and raise awareness about wildlife protection. Broadcast across Trace TV’s 190-country network, the series fuses live performances with storytelling about endangered species.
“Nigerians love our music, but we must also love our wildlife,” said CKay during a performance. “If we keep destroying habitats, we risk losing the animals that define our continent.”
Peter Knights of Wild Africa believes this creative approach is crucial. “Young Africans are powerful voices for change,” he said. “Their passion and creativity are the keys to conserving our continent’s future.”
Looking Ahead
As the nation awaits presidential assent, stakeholders agree that Nigeria stands at a pivotal point , a chance to turn policy into action and law into protection.
The success of the Wildlife Bill could serve as a blueprint for tackling other environmental crises: deforestation, plastic pollution, habitat loss, and climate vulnerability.
Dr. Onoja of NCF sums it up best: “Protecting wildlife is not just about saving animals. It’s about saving ourselves ,our water, our forests, our air, our health, and the generations to come.”
If President Tinubu signs the bill into law, Nigeria will not only reclaim its leadership in African conservation but also affirm a powerful truth: that a nation’s strength is measured not just by its industries and infrastructure, but by how well it preserves the natural heritage that sustains all life.
By Innocent Okoro Onoh
Senior Environment Correspondent
