The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye Salako has today, Tuesday 13th August 2024 in Abuja launched a (10), Ten Year Plan (2024-2034) National Elephant Action Plan for Nigeria (NEAP), in line with a key priority agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unlock natural resources for sustainable development designed for planning and monitoring elephant conservation measures and will serve as a framework for the strategies and decision-making of all relevant government institutions, donor agencies and NGOs.
The Minister stated that the Plan will provide the necessary strategic framework for the coordination of all actors involved in elephant conservation and management, including government institutions, NGOs/INGOs, private sector partners and the local communities living around elephant habitats.
Salako disclosed that Elephants are special creatures whose demonstration of the finest humans traits like self-awareness, intelligence and empathy is unmatched among the animal kingdom.
He emphasized that, it is common knowledge that threat to biodiversity and indeed iconic wildlife species of global significance such elephants is becoming endemic in Nigeria.
“Our efforts are not restricted to the confines of our borders as we are also collaborating with other countries at the sub-regional and regional levels to fight wildlife and Biodiversity loss”, he added.
The Minister reiterated that the Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance (MAANF) that Nigeria is championing alongside other countries of the global south is intended to help secure more funding into nature based solutions including protection of biodiversity while the recently signed memorandum of understanding with Cameroon on Bilateral Cooperation Framework Agreements on Transboundary Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest and Wildlife Resources will not only help improve national security but also biodiversity conservation.
“One of the key pillars of the NEAP is community involvement which is apposite to successful conservation efforts. We will therefore be working more closely with communities to develop sustainable livelihoods and community conservation carbon credit schemes that could assist to improve community well-being and consequently reduce activities that are harmful to elephants and their habitats,” he further explained.
He emphasised that this NEAP launch is not just a ceremonial event but a call to action to all of us across government and across society. It is a declaration of the unwavering commitment of the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and Nigeria to the protection and preservation of our natural heritage. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Environment and other partner agencies will continue to frontally confront poaching and illegally trade in our wildlifes including elephants.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari in his welcome address, expressed his profound gratitude to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), for facilitating the development and production of the NEAP document with the financial support of the European Union as well as the Wild Africa Fund (WAF) organization for their unflinching support to the launching of the document.
Kambari reminded stakeholders that the survival and prosperity of Nigeria’s elephants for future generations is not government business alone but also that of the society.
“Our contribution to raising awareness in our various communities will go a long way in curbing thE reduction in our elephant populations”, he added.
Also, the Chairperson, Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), Leadership Council and a former Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor said Nigeria is one of the relatively few countries in Africa that has both forest and savanna elephants, lamenting that both are now much depleted.
Sharon called on all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to the cause of elephant conservation.
She appreciated the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal and Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Department of Forestry and Head of CITES for their efforts in conservation of biodiversity.
Ibrahim Haruna
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
