Nigeria Moves To Ratify Convention On Endangered Species
An
eight-member committee has been inaugurated to take steps toward
the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, said in Abuja that
the measure was a necessary step toward the re-admission of
Nigeria to the convention.
’’We have engaged actively the processes that will ensure
that Nigeria is re-certified back into the protocol…Recently,
CITES officials visited Nigeria as part of our efforts at
getting Nigeria back into the mainstream of the convention,’’
the minister said.
The committee will proffer strategies to enhance implementation
of the international agreement.
Nigeria was suspended by the parties to the convention in 2005
due to the non- implementation of the provisions of the
convention regarding international trade in endangered species.
It has two months to carry out its assignment, which include
appraising Nigeria’s performance in the enforcement of the CITES
and identifying major constraints to effective enforcement of
the convention.
The committee is headed by Dr. Ngeri Benebo, the
Director-General of the National Environmental Standard
Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
NAN/Yinka
