Nigeria Enacts Harsh Wildlife Trafficking Penalties, But Will It Work?

Nigeria has taken a major step in the fight against wildlife crime with new legislation that imposes some of West Africa’s toughest penalties on illegal animal trafficking. The Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024, passed by the Nigerian Senate in October, awaits presidential approval and would subject offenders to fines up to $8,300 and prison sentences of up to 10 years for trafficking elephant ivory, pangolin scales, and other products from threatened species.

The legislation addresses critical gaps in Nigeria’s previous wildlife protection laws, which were plagued by ambiguities about domestic versus international trade regulations. The new bill expands the list of protected species, empowers courts to freeze assets connected to wildlife crimes, and strengthens coordination between government agencies that have historically struggled to work together effectively.

Nigeria’s role as a major wildlife trafficking hub makes this legal upgrade particularly significant. Earlier this year, authorities in Lagos seized over 3.7 metric tons of pangolin scales—representing approximately 1,900 animals—highlighting the massive scale of illegal wildlife trade flowing through the country.

However, conservation experts remain cautiously optimistic about the law’s real-world impact. While the legislation aligns Nigeria more closely with international conservation agreements like CITES, its success will ultimately depend on enforcement capacity. Without adequate resources, training, and political will to implement these new penalties, the groundbreaking law risks becoming what critics call a “paper victory”—impressive on paper but ineffective in practice. The true test will come when Nigerian authorities demonstrate their commitment to consistently applying these new legal tools against wildlife criminals.