The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against wildlife trafficking.
The agreement, signed Tuesday at NESREA headquarters in Abuja by Director-General Prof. Innocent Barikor and WJC’s Regional Manager for West and Central Africa, Abim Isafiade, sets out a framework for intelligence-sharing, forensic and legal collaboration, and joint enforcement under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.
Barikor said the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and reinforces the government’s resolve to protect biodiversity and combat transnational organised crime.
“NESREA is committed to ensuring that Nigeria does not become a safe haven or transit hub for wildlife traffickers,” he said. “Together with WJC, we will make it increasingly difficult for those profiting from the destruction of our natural heritage.”
WJC Executive Director, Olivia Swaak-Goldman, described the partnership as a boost for intelligence-led enforcement in Nigeria, adding that the joint effort would help dismantle criminal networks driving species to extinction.
