Oil Firms Threaten Wildlife In Andoni -Stakeholders

Stakeholders in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have said that, the activities of multinational oil companies operating in Andoni is threatening the lives of wildlife in the area.
The Stakeholders who said this at a forum organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, particularly pointed out that the activities of the oil companies have divided the Andoni Elephant Island into two. They stressed the need for companies undertaking Seismic activities in the area to ensure that the lives of the Elephants and other wildlife are not under threat.
Earlier, declaring the meeting open the National Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Niger Delta Biodiversity Consecration Programme Dr. Matthew Dore described the concern of the stakeholders as genuine as the situation could affect communications between wildfire species in the Western and Eastern parts of the Island.
Dr. Dove stressed the need for the communities to take up the campaign with the view to pressing their wildlife species.
The National Coordinator also stressed the need for the formulation of wildlife and elephant clubs with the view to creating awareness among communities on proteching the wildlife in the area from extinction.
Also speaking, Mr. Raymond Enuwanye of Gavic Ventures, said that series of seminars have been organised for participants to properly equip them with the necessary skills to protect wild lives in Andoni land from the activities of poachers.
He said that, apart from the protection of animal species, efforts are being made to ensure the protection of the Andoni forest from timber dealers.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has made available to communities in Andoni a draft byelaw on the protection of the local wildlife in the area.
The draft byelaw is titled: Andoni Local Government Wildlife Species Protection Byelaw. The Protection of Endangered Flood and Fauna Byelaws 2019.
The first schedule to the Byelaws says that, the hunting and collection of animals and plants is prohibited except in exceptional circumstances, while the second schedule says that animal and plants in relation to which hunting, collection, live capture or trade may only be permitted under license.
The UNDP further said that the byelaws was inline with the National Wildlife Species Protection Amendment Act 2015.
“The convention on international trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora (lites).
“The convention on migratory species of Wild Animals (cms) and daughters Agreements and protocols as well as the convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to which Nigeria is a signatory.