Some stakeholders in Andoni Local Government Area have called on the incoming Administration of the Local Government Area, to as a matter of urgency, consider for passage into by-law the draft legislator on wildlife conservation in Andoni.
It would be recalled that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had in 2019 submiad a Draft by-law on wildlife species conservation in Andoni to the outgoing administration in the area.
The draft by-law is titled: “Andoni Local Government wildlife species protection By-laws: The protection of a endangered flora and fauria Byelaw 2019.
According to the UNDP, the by-laws was aimed to provide for the conservation and management of Andoni Local Governments wild life and the protection of some of her endangered species due to over exploitation, habitat change or loss as required under the National Wildlife Species Protection Amendment Act 2015. It also said the document was in line with the convention on international trade in endangered species on wild faunia and flora (CITES), The convention on migratory species of wild animals (CMS) and her daughter agreement and protocols and the convention on Biological Diversity to which Nigeria a signatory”.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Tide, some of the stakeholders regretted the non-implementation of the draft bill by the outgoing administration in the area.
They said, if this had been done, the continuous roaming of the elephants and other wildlife species in the area will have seen checked.
A youth leader, Mr Joshua Ngo told The Tide that the outgoing administration did not see the need for the creation of wildlife cluster, proposed by the organisation.
He said, if this had been done, the present problem being faced by inhabitants of the Andoni mainland over the continous roaming of some wildlife species, particularly the elephants would have been checked.
“Most Wildlife, like the elephants, are becoming a problem to the inhabitants.
“Government should consider a reserve to put in checks the movement of their Animals”, he said.
Also speaking, the chairman Community Development Committee (CDC), Ngo, Mr Clement Clement said tourism will be boasted if the draft legislation by the UNDP was implemented.
According to him, with the largest coastline and a large number of elephants and other animal species, Andoni Local Government Council and indeed Rivers State will reap bountifully from opportunities that will be created with the implementation of the draft by-laws.
It would be recalled that the outgoing Andoni Local Government Chairman, Paul Lawrence Paul, had in a recent interview blamed the non-take off of the proposed elephant cluster on the uncooperative attitude of officials of federal ministry of agriculture and forestry.