Nigeria, WJC Partner To Tackle Wildlife Crime

By AUGUSTINA McSOLOMON-OGHAKPERUO

NIGERIA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) to combat transnational wildlife trafficking.

The agreement, sealed by NESREA Director-General Prof. Innocent Barikor and WJC’s Chief of Investigations Stephen Carmody (represented by Abim Isafiade), aims to boost intelligence-sharing, forensic collaboration, and enforcement under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.

Barikor said the MoU aligns with Nigeria’s CITES obligations and reaffirms government resolve to fight trafficking in wildlife, fish, and timber. WJC Executive Director Olivia Swaak-Goldman described the pact as a major step toward dismantling criminal networks threatening biodiversity.

The partnership seeks to make Nigeria a leader in intelligence-led enforcement and ensure sustainable protection of endangered species.