The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has honoured the Baale of Okun Igando in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Chief Semiu Waliu Jejelaiye, and Green Fingers Wildlife International for rescuing an endangered leatherback sea turtle from being killed and ensuring its safe return to its natural habitat.
The Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, presented the awards of commendation to the traditional ruler and the conservation organisation on Wednesday, describing their intervention as a commendable demonstration of environmental stewardship and community-led wildlife protection.
The recognition followed an incident in which fishermen caught the marine turtle, prompting Jejelaiye to intervene and prevent community members from killing the animal while awaiting the arrival of Green Fingers Wildlife International.
The organisation subsequently responded to the situation, assessed the animal and facilitated its safe return to its natural habitat.
Speaking during the presentation, Barikor said the intervention highlighted the importance of traditional institutions and community-based organisations in protecting endangered species and preserving Nigeria’s biodiversity.
“We are here to honour you and your community for this act and to tell you that we will use this community as a point of action in advocacy on endangered species,” he said.
In a letter of commendation to Jejelaiye, the NESREA chief praised the monarch for mobilising community members, safeguarding the turtle against exploitation and promptly notifying the relevant environmental authorities to ensure its proper handling and release.
“Your swift action in mobilising community members, ensuring the safety of the animal, preventing its exploitation, and promptly notifying relevant environmental authorities for proper handling and release back into its natural habitat is a demonstration of true environmental stewardship,” the letter stated.
NESREA also commended Green Fingers Wildlife International for its sustained conservation advocacy, public sensitisation and technical support during the rescue operation.
In its letter to the organisation, the agency described the leatherback turtle as the largest of all living sea turtles and noted that the species is protected under Nigeria’s National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in Domestic and International Trade) Regulations and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The agency acknowledged the organisation’s prompt response, technical expertise, humane handling of the animal and adherence to appropriate conservation practices in facilitating its assessment and safe release.
Barikor stressed that protecting endangered species remained central to NESREA’s mandate of safeguarding biodiversity, maintaining ecological balance and preventing wildlife extinction.
“At the Agency, our mandate includes protecting biodiversity, maintaining the ecosystem and ensuring that no animal goes extinct, because if they become extinct, the environment begins to suffer some challenges,” he said.
He commended the traditional ruler, the people of Okun Igando and the conservation organisation for their contributions to wildlife protection, emphasising that collective action was essential to preventing the extinction of vulnerable species.
The recognition comes amid growing calls for stronger community participation in biodiversity conservation, particularly in coastal areas where fishing activities can bring people into contact with threatened marine wildlife.
The leatherback sea turtle plays an important role in marine ecosystems, while its protection is supported by national environmental regulations and international controls on wildlife trade. Conservation efforts are therefore critical to discouraging the killing, exploitation and illegal trade of threatened species.
As part of its advocacy strategy, NESREA said Okun Igando would serve as a focal community for endangered-species awareness, with the aim of encouraging traditional leaders, residents and other stakeholders to take greater responsibility for protecting wildlife.
The awards underscore the role of traditional institutions and conservation organisations in promoting environmental responsibility and establishing community-led models for safeguarding Nigeria’s threatened wildlife.
