WMBD 2022 Campaign: NCF calls for review, enforcement of laws to protect animals
…Urges humans to co-exist in harmony with nature
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NFC) has charged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that laws protecting wildlife in the country are being reviewed and enforced.
The Senior Conservation Manager, Head of NCF, Mohammed Garba Boyi made this call during a public lecture on the commemoration of World Migratory Bird Day with the theme; “Light Polution: Dim the light for Birds at Night” at Government Secondary School in Abuja on Thursday.
The world Migratory Bird Day is a global occasion set aside by the United Nation and is celebrated bi-annually to intensify its awareness by raising campaign and highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and habitats aimed at drawing attention to the threat faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance as well as the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
Boyi disclosed that law enforcement agencies need to also prevent some laws that tend to inflict harm on birds and bring to book anyone caught in the act of killing them unjustly.
“In all the state’s ministry of environment, we have agency with the mandate to take care of wild animals such as the National Parks and NGOs like the Nigerian Conservation Foundation that have the mandate to ensure these Resources are protected. So we need to collaborate and see how these laws can be strengthened and also look at the challenges that prevent the laws from being enforced like the challenge of lack of vehicle to move to places where illegal activities are taking place. These are things Government should look at and develop a roadmap that will address the whole scenario.
“It is illegal for one to kill any kind of bird as it’s stated categorically in our laws but the lapses is that we don’t enforce the law. The law enforcement agencies have to see to these laws being enforced, and to stop those laws inflicting harm on a bird and anyone caught must be persecuted.
“These birds face a lot of challenges especially in Nigeria, people actually hunt them, kill them anyhow and in some places they being poisoned with chemicals, and thousands found dead. Then they are packed to sell which is bad for human health and that is why we have to sensitize those who are really involved in illegal activity to save life as well by coming up with strategies on how that can be addressed.
“We are also working with agencies to enact policies that will promote the existence of nature and mitigate its negative impact on environment. It is the mandate of the agency to ensure that human lives exist in harmony with nature and that the country prospers while being at peace with nature,” he stressed.
Speaking on the importance of birds to life, he said they play a significant role in the ecosystem, contributing to food web and food chain which promotes good health and also serve as biological clot. Adding that presence of birds in a place at a particular point in time tells very much about climate condition, scientifical information.
“These birds tend to migrate whenever the weather condition of a place becomes uncondusive to countries with favourable climate condition that they can also exploit food resources available in such environment.”
On projects established to intensify awareness on conserving birds and other animals, Boyi revealed plans are being initiated towards establishment of conservative clubs whereby children can be sensitized at early stages of their lives on the importance to preserve these resources in order to grow with such mindset.
He further disclosed that the project will be extended to rural communities where people will be saddled with the responsibility of conserving the resources that are within the community starting with a bottom line approach towards addressing the situation around birds and nature by engaging those at the grassroot.
He also emphasized that the awareness is cut across six geo-political regions in the country which Abuja zone cordinates all activities in the Northern parts. “We have representatives in all the state’s working for the organization. We have established this kind of conservation clubs with all the NCF promoters clubs in six states so far.”
Boyi however noted that NCF oftentime organizes programs enlightening people about alternative source of livelihood rather than cutting down trees that forces birds to migrate.
Earlier, the Vice Principal Administration, Government Secondary School, Tidy Wada, Mrs. Chinwe Anaekwe, stressed that the event is an eye opener for the millennium children who do not have prior knowledge of the importance of nature as well as adults who needs to be sensitized.
She said birds and other animals on the planet are God’s creation as are human beings, and it is very important for all to appreciate these gifts of nature by placing high value to the resources for the greater good.
The WMBD celebration witnessed students from Government Secondary School Tudu Wada, Garki, and Wise as well as Model Secondary School Maitama who expressed the benefits of the sensitization and how they can also impact meaningfully what was learned to the society.
