The National Combating Wildlife Crime Steering Committee (NCWCSC) convened its first quarterly meeting on March 20, 2025, at the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Headquarters. The meeting aimed to strengthen collaborative efforts in the fight against wildlife crime across Nigeria.
Dr. Vincent Isegbe, Comptroller General of NAQS, welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing illegal wildlife trade and safeguarding Nigeria’s biodiversity. He suggested forming a subcommittee to explore strategies for breeding regulated species, supporting population recovery, and enhancing conservation efforts.
A key focus of the gathering was the validation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving major stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Environment, NAQS, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of State Services (DSS), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other enforcement agencies. The MoU seeks to improve coordination in preventing, investigating, and enforcing wildlife crime laws, thereby providing a more robust framework for preserving Nigeria’s wildlife heritage.
The Director of Forestry, Dr. Ama Moses in his remarks, welcomed all key stakeholders to the meeting while encouraging all and sundry to engage in meaningful deliberations that would give great impetus to the efforts in combating illegal wildlife crimes.
