No known statistics for wildlife in Nigeria – FG

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.”

 Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed

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.”