World Pangolin Day: Group Urges Nigeria To Fast-Track Protection Bill
Call for Urgent Legislative Action
TO mark World Pangolin Day, conservation group Wild Africa has called on the Nigerian government to urgently strengthen legal protections for pangolins, described as the world’s most trafficked mammals.
In a statement issued by its West Africa spokesperson, Dr. Mark Ofua, the organisation warned that despite existing national and international protections — including the 2016 global ban on commercial international trade — pangolins remain under severe threat.
The animals are heavily targeted for their scales, which are widely used in parts of Asia for traditional medicine, and for their meat, considered a delicacy in some markets.
Nigeria’s Role in Global Trade
Dr. Ofua said Nigeria has emerged as a significant hub in the illegal pangolin trade, accounting for 55 per cent of global pangolin scale seizures between 2016 and 2019.
“Nigeria is a custodian of precious biodiversity, but our pangolins are being trafficked into extinction,” he said.
Citing recent data, Ofua noted that more than 530,000 pangolins were linked to 2,222 illegal trade seizures worldwide between 2016 and 2024, with scales making up 99 per cent of confiscated items.
The findings were highlighted in a global report titled Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins, prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group for the CITES Secretariat.
The report, based on submissions from 32 CITES Parties, including 15 pangolin range states, underscored persistent demand for pangolin products despite international trade bans.
Proposed Bill Seen as “Gamechanger”
Wild Africa urged swift passage of Nigeria’s proposed Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, introduced in early 2024.
According to Ofua, the bill — which proposes tougher penalties for wildlife trafficking — could be a turning point in safeguarding the species.
“This World Pangolin Day, let’s make history for the right reasons,” he said, describing the legislation as critical to securing a future for Nigeria’s pangolins.
