Nigeria Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime

What Is This Policy?

The National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria 2022–2026 is Nigeria’s first-ever comprehensive strategic framework to systematically address the escalating threat of wildlife trafficking and illegal forest exploitation. Developed by the Federal Ministry of Environment with technical and financial support from UNODC and the Government of Germany, the Strategy establishes a five-year roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s institutional, legal, and enforcement response to what has become a serious transnational organised crime problem. It reflects Nigeria’s national vision: “A Nigeria Free of Wildlife Crime.”

Who Does It Target?

Federal and state law enforcement agencies: Nigeria Customs Service, NESREA, National Park Service, Federal Department of Forestry, and Nigeria Police Force Prosecution and judiciary bodies responsible for wildlife and forest crime cases Ports, airports, and international land border agencies managing transit points for illicit wildlife products Local communities living adjacent to forests and protected areas who may participate in or be affected by illegal wildlife trade International partners, civil society organisations, and private sector stakeholders involved in conservation and trade

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Establish a Nigeria that is demonstrably and measurably free from routine wildlife and forest crime by 2030 Strengthen Nigeria’s law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial capabilities to detect, investigate, and adjudicate wildlife crimes effectively Harmonise and modernise the national legal framework to deter and sanction wildlife traffickers Reduce Nigeria’s role as a primary transit hub for illicit pangolin scales, ivory, rosewood (kosso), and other protected species Remove corruption and financial crime as key enablers of wildlife trafficking across frontline agencies

Key Features

Seven Strategic Objectives: Enhance Institutional Capabilities; Strengthen the Legal Framework; Increase Collaboration; Honour International Commitments; Remove Crime Enablers (corruption/financial crime); Raise Awareness; and Develop Alternative Livelihoods for forest-dependent communities Evidence-Based Approach: Built on data from the UNODC World Wildlife Crime Reports, ICCWC Analytical Toolkit for Nigeria, and Organised Crime Threat Assessment findings Inter-Agency Coordination: Establishes a National Stakeholders Forum for Combatting Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria to drive cross-agency implementation Anti-Corruption Pillar: Corruption Risk Assessments completed for Nigeria Customs Service, NESREA, Federal Department of Forestry, and National Park Service; Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units being constituted in each agency Legal Reform: Supports passage of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2022 and development of sentencing guidelines for wildlife offences

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active — launched April 11, 2022; Phase I implementation underway; Phase II commenced to deepen regional/inter-agency cooperation Wildlife Crime Scale: Over 1,000 seizure records (2011–2020) link Nigeria as source, transit, or destination country; Nigeria is the primary global exit point for pangolin scales, accounting for over 50% of worldwide seizures in 2019 Sensitisation Strategy: A national Wildlife and Forest Crime Sensitisation Strategy and communication package developed in 2023–2024, supported by Germany and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs ICCWC Toolkit Report: Comprehensive institutional assessment completed and endorsed by the Ministry of Environment in 2024; implementation of recommendations underway International Support: Funded and technically supported by Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union; UNODC serves as primary implementing partner

How to Access

Law Enforcement Agencies: Engage through the National Stakeholders Forum coordination mechanism; access UNODC-delivered capacity building, training, and operational equipment via the Federal Ministry of Environment Prosecutors & Judiciary: Engage the Directorate of Public Prosecutions; access UNODC Rapid Reference Guide for wildlife crime prosecution; training programmes available for investigators and prosecutors Communities & Civil Society: Engage via the awareness and alternative livelihoods components administered through the Federal Ministry of Environment and state forestry agencies Contact: Federal Ministry of Environment: environment.gov.ng | UNODC Nigeria Office: unodc.org/nigeria | NESREA: nesrea.gov.ng | National Park Service: nationalparks.gov.ng

Important Terms

CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Nigeria is a signatory; key treaty governing legal and illegal wildlife trade regulation UNTOC: UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime provides the legal framework for prosecuting wildlife trafficking as organised crime ICCWC: International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime, a collaborative body of CITES, UNODC, INTERPOL, World Bank, and WCO that provides the Analytical Toolkit used to assess Nigeria’s institutional response NESREA: National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria’s CITES enforcement authority with jurisdiction over trade in protected species

Impact & Metrics

In 2019, at least 51 tonnes of pangolin scales seized globally originated from Nigerian ports, compared to just 2 tonnes in 2015 over 50% of worldwide seizures traceable to Nigeria Nigeria is the primary exit point for ivory trafficked from Africa to Asia: seizures linked to Nigeria grew from 5,629 kg (2009–2011) to 12,211 kg (2015–2017) In 2016, Asian countries imported approximately 1.4 million m³ of rosewood from West Africa, of which 58% originated from Nigeria UNODC’s Rapid Reference Guide for Nigerian prosecutors contributed to improved conviction rates in comparable countries from under 25% to over 80%

Official Resources

Website: environment.gov.ng | unodc.org/nigeria | nesrea.gov.ng Policy Document: National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria 2022–2026 — available via Federal Ministry of Environment and UNODC Nigeria Office Contact: Federal Ministry of Environment, Mabushi, Abuja | UNODC Nigeria, UN House, Abuja Summary prepared using the Policy Summary Template | Source: UNODC, Federal Ministry of Environment, ICCWC, Government of Germany, CITES Secretariat | March 2026

Legal Framework

The Nigeria Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime operates under the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act 2016, the Forestry Act, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act 2007. It aligns with Nigeria's obligations under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) applied to wildlife trafficking.