In a bid to intensify the fight against illicit wildlife trade in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, hosted the National Combatting Wildlife Crime Steering Committee (NCWCSC) at its Corporate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, who was represented by Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, head of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), expressed profound gratitude to the committee members, emphasising the importance of a collective commitment in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. He remarked, “The sole aim of this initiative is to put a stop to wildlife crime.”
According to the CGC, the meeting sought to strengthen collaboration on law enforcement operations, intelligence sharing, and investigations in order to achieve the shared mission of halting wildlife trafficking and apprehending organised criminal groups involved in the illicit trade. “This meeting marks a journey toward a united effort to combat illegal wildlife trade,” he stated.
In an interview following the meeting, Mrs. Catherine Olukoni, Deputy Director and Head of Wildlife and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the Federal Ministry of Environment, praised the NCS for its tremendous efforts in curbing illegal wildlife trafficking. “I foresee a better Nigeria as the Service is working tirelessly to achieve and ensure this,” she said.
Mrs. Olukoni further stressed the importance of collective efforts, adding, “I am convinced that we can move forward with our goal of a Nigeria free of wildlife crime.”