Environment
No More Room For Illegal Wildlife Trade -FG
The Conservator General, National Park Service, Dr Ibrahim Goni, says there is no more room for illegal wildlife trade in the country as offenders will be prosecuted.
Goni, made this known in Abuja when the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) handed over a confiscated parrot to the parks service for keeps and management.
He noted that the confiscation of the bird and its hand-over to the park’s management was a welcomed development, adding that Nigeria would continue to fight against wildlife trafficking.
Goni said Nigeria had been accused by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as a transit root and source of illegal animal trafficking.
“This has given our country a bad name. We are here to redeem that image. Mr President in 2016 reviewed the CITES Act for this reason.
“Based on the Act, most agencies like the National Park Service, NAQS, National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Department of Forestry in the Ministry of Environment were given additional powers.
“This has made us to work as a team and as a result led to the confiscation of the parrot,’’ he said.
he further said that in the convention Act, the parrot was clearly stated as an endangered bird and must be protected.
“Parrots are beneficial to man in several ways as they serve as stress buster due to their talking nature and help in guarding in homes.
“When well-trained, parrot would be able to pass information to the owner of the house especially if a trespasser comes around.
“A parrot can also tell time about one’s environment. It is highly trafficked because the feathers and inner organs serve as medicine,’’ he said.
Dr Vincent Isegbe, Director General, NAQS, also noted that one of his organisation’s mandate was‘ to track the in and out of illegal animals’.
Isegbe, who was represented by Dr Yunisa Dakat of NAQS, said that the confiscated parrot was arrested and detained in Lagos for lack of document.
“If our officers discover you don’t have the right documents attached to the animal to travel with, they will confiscate the animal.
“This parrot was seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The people don’t have the document of the bird so we confiscated it and brought it to the parks for keeps,’’ he said.
Also, Yohanna Saidu, Wildlife Conservation Service, commended NAQS for doing its job and taking the pain to move the parrot from Lagos to Abuja for proper management.
According to him, such gesture and collaboration among relevant agencies would help Nigeria to redeem her image globally.
Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Director-General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), said the gesture showed that government enforcement agencies were working.
“It sent a message to the would be perpetrators that they will be caught and prosecuted. It will reduce wildlife crime in the nation.
“CITES is an international treaty drawn up in 1973 to protect wildlife against over-exploitation.
“It also has the mandate to prevent international trade from threatening species with extinction. Endangered species is a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.