SEO Riders
– MoU Enhances Cooperation Against Organized Wildlife Trafficking Networks
– Intelligence Sharing & Legal Support Boosted for Wildlife, Fish & Timber Crimes
– WJC & NESREA Partnership Builds on Past Successes Against Pangolin, Ivory Trade
On 16 September 2025, Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja aimed at stepping up the fight against transnational organized wildlife crime. The agreement— inked by Prof. Innocent Barikor (CEO of NESREA) and Stephen Carmody (Chief of Investigations, WJC)—lays the groundwork for intelligence sharing, enhanced forensic and legal collaboration, and operational support through the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force (WLETF) to target trafficking of wildlife, fish, and timber.
This MoU builds on WJC’s previous successful cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service, which has already led to major seizures—such as over 25 tonnes of pangolin scales, multiple tonnes of ivory, arrests, and convictions, including of foreign nationals involved in trafficking. NESREA’s Barikor said the agreement aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under CITES and reflects a strengthened government resolve to protect biodiversity, conserve threatened species, and ensure wildlife crime is no longer a safe business. WJC noted that between 2021-2024, approximately 93% of pangolin seizures in Nigeria involved its support, indicating the scale of impact of coordinated enforcement.