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The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria has disclosed the destruction of approximately 2.5 tonnes of poached elephant tusks, estimated to be worth around N9.9 billion according to Reuters.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Isiaq Adekunle Salako, announced the disposal of confiscated wildlife at an event in Abuja.
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Nigeria, along with other countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Ghana, has become a significant transit hub for illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria has pulverized the tusks and plans to use the powder to construct a symbolic national park monument. This monument aims to serve as a reminder of the importance of elephants in the ecosystem.
The destruction of the stockpiles complies with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) resolutions on the disposal of seized and confiscated wildlife specimens.
Nigeria, despite being a signatory to CITES, has been recognized as a central location for criminal networks engaged in trafficking illegal African wildlife components, including tusks and pangolin scales.
The country has stepped up efforts to combat smuggling, collaborating with international partners to address the issue.
In 2022, Nigerian customs officials seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and apprehended 14 individuals, and the confiscated items were destroyed in 2023.
