A record seizure of pangolin scales in Nigeria has forged a new global alliance aimed at breaking trafficking cartels driving Africa’s underground wildlife market.
In April 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission, intercepted 3.765 tonnes of pangolin scales in Lagos in what was reportedly the largest to be confiscated in 2025. The seized shipment is equivalent to more than 1,900 pangolins.
Between 2021 and 2025 alone, joint operations have led to the seizure of over 25 tonnes of pangolin scales and 1.065 tonnes of ivory, leading to 42 arrests and 12 convictions.
Despite the progress, wildlife trafficking has continued to thrive amidst weak enforcement and porous borders.
Enter the Wildlife Justice Commission
Nigeria’s recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the WJC, a global non-profit based in The Hague, attempts to curtail the sway of criminal networks that fuel this underground market.
The landmark agreement provides a structure for collaborative effort, leveraging intelligence sharing, forensic investigations and legal collaboration under the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force.
The Nigerian government stressed that the MoU aligns with its commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), strengthening obligations to protect biodiversity and conserve endangered species.
Previously, after trafficked animals were seized, cartels quickly re-emerged with new routes and strategies. The relatively few convictions indicate that wildlife crime was low-risk and high-profit.
The new alliance shifts the approach from arrest to dismantling entire networks through intelligence-led operations.
The WJC has described the MoU as part of a broader push to deepen partnerships in Africa’s trafficking hotspots.
The fallouts of wildlife trafficking are far-reaching: animals like Pangolins and elephants play critical ecological roles in balancing forests and grasslands. Their decline threatens ecosystems that support food security, water cycles, and even climate stability.
Communities also lose opportunities in sustainable tourism and forest management.
Unlike previous efforts, the recent approach is backed by technical sophistication, empowering authorities with the tools to combat trafficking.
In the midst of the successful agenda, there are looming challenges. Many reserves and protected areas in Nigeria are only written on paper but lack infrastructure, staffing and active monitoring.
Additionally, 75% of local communities in Nigeria make up for the 30.9% of Nigerians who live below the poverty line. Many rely on bushmeat for survival, posing a challenge to authorities.
Without inclusive development and community-based alternatives, relying solely on enforcement can create loopholes.
Perhaps a combination of international intelligence and local enforcement may provide an opportunity to weaken criminal networks, protect endangered species, and safeguard Nigeria’s natural heritage.
Summary not available at this time.
