The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed the sculpture of an elephant sculpted from pulverized wildlife stockpile, marking the culmination of the disposal of approximately six tons of confiscated wildlife stockpiles under the custody of her Agency, NESREA, the designated CITES Enforcement Authority in Nigeria.
The sculpture, unprecedented in Nigeria, symbolizes the country’s unequivocal stance against wildlife trafficking and its steadfast dedication to safeguarding endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
This event signifies a momentous achievement in Nigeria’s endeavors to combat illicit wildlife trade, a menace to the nation’s biodiversity and global conservation initiatives.
Collaborative endeavors by NESREA and allied agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service resulted in the apprehension of numerous suspects between 2011 and 2023. The seizure included 185 bags of pangolin scales weighing 3991 Kg, 11 bags of crocodiles and other listed reptiles, leopard skins, and feathers weighing 102Kg, as well as 2500Kg of ivory, all of which were retained by NESREA.
In October 2023, the confiscated pangolin scales and other animal skins were incinerated by NESREA, followed by the crushing of the seized ivory in January 2024. These operations were executed with the assistance of the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation (EPIF) of the United Kingdom and the United States Embassy in Nigeria.
During the unveiling of the statue crafted from the remnants of pulverized confiscated stockpiles, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially named it the ‘Giwa Statue of Renewed Hope’. He reiterated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to eradicating wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to bolster the fight against illicit wildlife trafficking by providing intelligence, discouraging animal poaching, and abstaining from using products obtained unethically, emphasizing, “we rely on wildlife for our sustenance, well-being, and prosperity, as they uphold ecological equilibrium, sustain the food chain, and preserve our connection to nature.”
Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, remarked, “This Elephant sculpture epitomizes Nigeria’s steadfast resolve for zero tolerance towards Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) across all spheres, serving as evidence to CITES communities that Nigeria remains resolute in fulfilling its obligations to international environmental conventions and promoting eco-tourism.”
NESREA, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Environment, is mandated to enforce all environmental laws, policies, guidelines, standards, and regulations, as well as ensure compliance with the provisions of multilateral environmental agreements, protocols, conventions, and treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
