There is no statistics on the actual figures
for wildlife animals in Nigeria, the Federal
Government has said.
It disclosed this on Sunday during the
celebration of the 45th World Environment
Day in Abuja. The WED is celebrated on
the 5th of June every year and the theme
for this year’s celebration was “Join the
Race, Better the World: Go Wild for Life.”
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina
Mohammed, stated that although the
country’s wildlife had been badly depleted,
it was sad to note that Nigeria lacks
statistics of its wildlife population.
She said, “Today I know that if I put my
hand on my heart and somebody says,
what is really the status, the statistical
figures of wildlife in Nigeria? I’m not sure
that I can tell you as the Minister of
Environment. And if I am going to say
something, is going to be probably ten
years old in terms of its information and
data.
“So we will develop the capacity to know
what the baseline is, what animal is where,
which of them is endangered, what we
need to do to protect these animals and to
increase their population in Nigeria for the
sake of the wildlife.”
Mohammed stated that the activities of
man and nature had reduced the wildlife in
Nigeria, adding that it was time to work
together to reverse the trend.
She said, “The activities of man on the
environment has increasingly endangered
our wildlife in Nigeria. We must reverse the
situation by collaborating with all
stakeholders and all constituencies of the
society.
“We are all aware that the status of
wildlife in Nigeria sadly leaves more to be
desired, as the rate of rate of depletion of
the population of animals like the
elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards,
ostriches, etc, is frightening.”
According to her, these wild animals
should be protected based on strict
regulations, but regretted that their
extinction was becoming alarming in
Nigeria as there were no records to tell the
status of wildlife in the country.
The minister said, “This unfortunate state
of affair shows that our wildlife heritage is
fast disappearing and therefore a call to
action is required, which is why all
stakeholders must be up and doing.
“In this regard the Ministry of Environment
shall be collaborating with other
government agencies to address all forms
of activities endangering our wildlife. We
shall be working with the military, the
police, non-governmental agencies, civil
society and our communities, as we will all
be critical to these efforts.”
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