Nigeria launches 10 years national elephant action plans to combat threats

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

In a bit to combat threat of elephants, habitat loss, human wildlife conflict and poaching,
the federal government has launched a 10years National Elephant Action Plan ( NEAP)for Nigeria from 2024-2034 to combat wildlife threats.
The programme was launched on Tuesday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society, WCS, and The Elephant Protection Initiative, EPI, this is to ensure all hands are put on deck for the implementation of the plan.
Speaking during the launch, Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed that the action plan will provide all 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 said the National Elephant Action Plan for Nigeria (NEAP),is 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.
He explained 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 emphasized
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.