Eme Offiong, Calabar
The United States says it is prepared to collaborate with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to end illicit trade in wildlife across the African continent.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, who made the call during his maiden visit to Cross River State, said that the American government was determined to seek better ways of partnership with Nigeria.
“The main objective of this trip is to learn more about what your state and Federal Government are doing to protect the oldest rain forests in Africa; one that has been identified as a global biodiversity hotspot teeming with critical endangered species”, he noted.
According to Entwistle, there are plans to assist the State and Federal Governments including park rangers, non-governmental organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society and Pandrillus to strengthen bilateral relationship.
Penalties
The Ambassador remarked that while much attention was drawn to wildlife trafficking and poaching in Eastern and Southern Africa, the West African sub-region had become a growing hub for traffickers and poachers.
He urged the Nigeria Governments to make traffickers and poachers face severe penalties to deter others from engaging in the illegal trade.
Entwistle said: “Unfortunately, West Africa, Nigeria in particular, is becoming a growing hub for traffickers and poachers, who source and pass wildlife products like ivory, animal parts, exotic pets through Nigeria to other destinations around the world.
I encourage all governments, including Nigeria’s, to take a hard look at whether the penalties for wildlife trafficking are sufficiently severe”, he stated.
Ambassador Entwistle informed journalists and stakeholders that the American Government has committed to completely ban imports and exports of ivory products as well as stop domestic commercial trade of wildlife products.
He said to achieve its aim, “America hopes to expand its cooperation in joint training, technical exchanges, information sharing and public education on promoting conservation, while combating poaching and wildlife trafficking in Nigeria”.
He said that through its Fish and Wildlife Service, one point two million dollars had been invested to promote conservation of rare and endangered animals.
While also calling on communities to actively participate in the global conservation programme, he urged all to be more environmentally conscious and adopt eco-friendly equipment and strategies to preserve the environment.
Highlight of the visit was an interaction with stakeholders in forest conservation sector as well as donations of reading materials to the management of the American Corner, one of eleven centres in Nigeria that offers visitors information on the United States.
http://voiceofnigeria.org.ng/13496-2/
