Nigeria has introduced a National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP) as part of its commitment to prevent the extinction of its dwindling elephant population and to bolster wildlife conservation efforts.
Two elephants roaming the diverse forests of Nigeria. AI generated picture.
The initiative was announced by the Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, in Abuja. He emphasised the urgent need for this action, highlighting the significant decline in Nigeria’s elephant population, which has plummeted by 86% over the past three decades, leaving only around 400 elephants in 2021.
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Salako noted that the NEAP aligns with the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime, and the upcoming Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024. He also stressed Nigeria’s involvement in international wildlife conservation, including partnerships with neighbouring countries like Cameroon.
The NEAP is designed to function as a strategic tool for planning and monitoring elephant conservation efforts. It brings together various stakeholders, including government agencies, conservation organisations, and local communities, to work towards the shared goal of preserving Nigeria’s wildlife heritage.
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In his remarks, Salako underscored the importance of addressing threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. He praised the NEAP as timely and essential for securing Nigeria’s biodiversity and natural resources for sustainable development.
The plan also ties into global efforts to halt biodiversity loss by 2050, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to achieving its environmental targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Agreement.
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