National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Wildlife Commission Partner To Combat Transnational Animal Trafficking

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening wildlife protection in Nigeria.. .. Read ..Full.. Article.. .

The MoU was signed on Tuesday at NESREA’s headquarters in Abuja by the agency’s Director General/CEO, Prof. Innocent Barikor, and the Chief of Investigations at the WJC, Stephen Carmody, who was represented by the Regional Manager for West and Central Africa, Abim Isafiade.

The agreement established a framework for cooperation between the two organisations to combat transnational organised criminal networks involved in wildlife, fish, and timber trafficking.

Key areas of collaboration include intelligence-sharing, forensic and legal cooperation, and support for future programs under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.

Barikor stated that the MoU aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and conserving threatened species.

“This MoU aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and demonstrates our government’s determination to protect biodiversity, conserve threatened species, and ensure sustainable managed wildlife resources for future generations,” he said.

He emphasised NESREA’s dedication to working with the WJC to prevent Nigeria from becoming a safe haven or transit hub for wildlife traffickers.

The Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, Olivia Swaak-Goldman in a statement, noted that the partnership would bring new momentum to wildlife enforcement in Nigeria.

She stressed that the shared commitment of NESREA and the WJC to disrupting wildlife crime, dismantling transnational criminal networks, and preventing organized crime from driving species to extinction.

“By expanding our partnerships to include NESREA and the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force, we can sustain and deepen this transformation — ensuring that Nigeria continues to set the benchmark for intelligence-led enforcement, and..  Read . .More