The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has concluded plans to create awareness on the migration of birds from their original habitat to other places in search of a conducive environment.

The Deputy Director, Wild Life Management in the ministry, Mr. Fidelis Omeni said this while speaking with  newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the ministry was committed to bringing awareness to Nigerians on the importance of the migration of birds.

He said that the awareness was designed to enlighten the public on migratory species of birds to various countries as the global community prepared to celebrate the World Migratory Bird Day on May 12. Omeni identified migratory birds as birds that cross international boundaries for survival.

According to him, the birds that migrate across international boundaries become the property or symbol of many countries through which they fly and survive.

He said that in order to protect these birds, efforts should be made to ensure that all living organisms exist in their habitat to make the environment conducive for all.

He explained that birds that migrate across international boundaries become the property or symbol of many countries through which they fly and survive.

According to him, in order to protect these birds, efforts should be made to ensure that all living organisms exist in their habitat to make the environment conducive for all.

The director explained that the enlightenment programme would be organised under the platform of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement among nations aimed at ensuring that the international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival.

He added that it was because such migratory birds from Europe, North Africa and several other parts of the world found Nigeria habitable to spend their winter in the country.

The Deputy Director advised Nigerians to continue to ensure and maintain favourable environment for these birds.

Omeni warned that if Nigerians killed the birds through trapping, poaching or illegal hunting of their eggs, it would threaten the survival and welfare of the species.

On Avian Influenza, he said, though the country had had its own share of the menace a few years back, the ministry was working hard to make sure the issue was well understood.  The deputy director stressed that it was the responsibility of the country to put in place measures that would ensure that wild birds’ diseases were not transferred to the local birds.

‘’Besides research, looking for solutions and effective drugs, we have the responsibility as a country to ensure that the birds that are resident in Nigeria are not contaminated by the visiting birds.’’

According to him, migration of birds are indicators of climate change as the birds have the ability to detect when and where is suitable for them to reside.

He advised that the ministry should have maps of flyways that these birds used, for effective monitoring to enhance their survival.