The Federal Government has unveiled a 10-year National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP) to guide Nigeria’s efforts in elephant conservation from 2024 to 2034.
The plan, launched by the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, in Abuja, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority agenda to unlock natural resources for sustainable development.
Salako emphasised that the NEAP is designed to serve as a comprehensive framework for planning and monitoring elephant conservation measures in Nigeria. It will guide the strategies and decision-making of government institutions, donor agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in elephant conservation.
“The National Elephant Action Plan provides a strategic framework for the coordination of all actors involved in elephant conservation and management,” Salako stated. This includes government institutions, NGOs, international NGOs (INGOs), private sector partners, and local communities residing near elephant habitats.
Salako highlighted the significance of elephants, noting that these magnificent creatures exhibit remarkable human-like traits, such as self-awareness, intelligence and empathy, which are unparalleled in the animal kingdom. However, he pointed out that the threats to biodiversity, particularly iconic wildlife species like elephants, have become endemic in Nigeria.
“Our efforts extend beyond our borders as we collaborate with other countries at the sub-regional and regional levels to combat wildlife and biodiversity loss,” Salako added. He cited Nigeria’s leadership role in the Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance (MAANF), which aims to secure increased funding for nature-based solutions, including biodiversity protection. He also mentioned a recent memorandum of understanding with Cameroon on bilateral cooperation for transboundary ecosystem conservation and sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources. This agreement, he noted, will enhance both national security and biodiversity conservation.
One of the key pillars of the NEAP is community involvement, which Dr. Salako described as essential for successful conservation efforts. “We will work closely with communities to develop sustainable livelihoods and community conservation carbon credit schemes. These initiatives will help improve community well-being and reduce activities that harm elephants and their habitats,” he explained.
The minister stressed that the NEAP launch is not merely a ceremonial event but a call to action across all levels of government and society. “This is a declaration of the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and Nigeria to the protection and preservation of our natural heritage,” he stated. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment and partner agencies, will continue to confront poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, including the trade in elephant products.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment Mahmud Adam Kambari, in his welcome address, expressed profound gratitude to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for facilitating the development and production of the NEAP document, with financial support from the European Union. He also acknowledged the Wild Africa Fund (WAF) for their unwavering support in launching the plan.
Kambari reminded stakeholders that the survival and prosperity of Nigeria’s elephants for future generations is not the responsibility of the government alone but a collective societal duty. “Our contribution to raising awareness in our communities will go a long way in curbing the decline in our elephant populations,” he noted.
Chairperson of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Leadership Council and former Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor highlighted Nigeria’s unique position as one of the few African countries that host both forest and savanna elephants. However, she lamented that both species are now severely depleted. In a statement issued by the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Ibrahim Haruna, Ikeazor called on all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to elephant conservation.
She also expressed her appreciation to the Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako and the Department of Forestry, particularly the Head of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), for their dedication to biodiversity conservation.
