The Federal Government has begun destruction of 3.99 Tonnes of pangolin scales worth over $1.2 million in the international market in its bid to deter traffickers.
This incineration would be first ever official destruction of contraband wildlife parts and items seized by the federal government since the establishment of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA) in 2007.
The Federal Government through its agency, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA), said the controlled incineration was coming nine years after several court cases of the arrested illegal wildlife traffickers of the contraband item.
Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, said the substantial destruction of these sized parts of wildlife intended to be traded by the traffickers was to send a very strong warning to the international community of Nigeria’s determination to fight all illegal sale of wild animal parts which were preyed upon.
The scales, he said, were from 16,000 Pangolin wasted by these poachers endangering the species.
He said the important animals to the environment were of eight species which could only be found in Asia and Africa, with each continent being home to four species each.
He said the agency had a stockpile of various contraband items from crocodile scales to tiger skin seized as far back as 2012.
He called on the public to desist from any act that would further deplete the wild of any animal especially the Pangolin which he noted were in abundance in Africa, but were now suffering threat of extinction due to poaching and high value placed on them owing to superstition.
According to Jauro, “Illegal shipment refers to those items brought into the country without permit. Most of these illegal shipments come to Nigeria as a transit hub passing through to other parts of Nigeria.
“They use Nigeria to take it to other countries, it is not allowed and certainly, those involved with this will be sanctioned appropriately.
“Presently we are working to review our regulations on the issue of fines, so that those who are found wanting will just go to jail without the option of fine, to serve as a deterrent.
“Some of the stockpiles we are having date back to 9 years ago. The agency was established in 2007. In 2012 we came out with a regulation to do it scientifically, and we started enforcing it, so most of these stockpiles you see dates for as long as 9 years.”
The West African Director, Wild African Fund, Mark Ofua, had said ethical constraints would not permit him to share the value of the seized wildlife parts.
However, Tribune reported that a kilogram of pangolin scales costs not less than $300, according to ResearchGate.net which displayed prices of pangolins in protected areas and non-protected areas.
A cumulative of the incinerated 4 times translating to $1.2 million. conservatively.
Mark Ofua said: “by destroying these pangolin scales and skins, we’re not just eradicating contraband; we’re crushing the illegal trade that preys on our wildlife. Our commitment is unwavering, and we will not compromise on the protection of our endangered species”.
