The Nigeria Customs says that 14,833 metric tons of pangolin scales meant for illicit trading and worth an estimated $900 million were confiscated in the country in 2018.
This represents the biggest seizure of pangolin scales by value and weight globally in 2018, the Customs authority says.
Mutalib Sule, assistant comptroller-Federal Operation Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs, stated this at an event organised by the Pangolin Conservation Working Group Nigeria (PCWGN) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation to mark the 2019 World Pangolin Day recently in Lagos.
“The summary of pangolin seizure by FOU Zone A in 2018 was 14,833 metric tons. By my study, globally, this is the highest seizure of pangolins in 2018 worth over $900million,” Sule said.
“Followed by Japan with a distant seizure value at $450 million,” he added.
He stated that a total of four seizures were made in 2018 and all in Lagos, the country’s commercial centre.
He identified the widespread dearth of knowledge about the mammals as the major factor fuelling the illegal trade in the country, while calling for the need to drive more public awareness of the mammal.
Sule stated that dangerous terrains, poor reward system and weak law enforcement as well shortcomings in the judicial system were major challenges limiting law enforcement agencies in its mission to seize and arrest culpable individuals in connection with the illegal pangolin scales trade in the country.
According to him, a kilogram of pangolin scales cost about $3,000 and the meat cost $300 per kg while a kilogram of live pangolin is sold for $15,000 per kg.
A 2017 report from the international organisation TRAFFIC, Nigeria is among the top ten countries involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
Pangolin, which curls up into a ball when frightened, is the world’s most trafficked wild mammal.
Despite sanction, the trade and hunting are still on the rise in Nigeria and experts say they are increasingly driven by the high demand from Asia.
Olajumoke Morenikeji, coordinator of the Pangolin Conservation Working Group Nigeria (PCWGN), said that the conversation and protection of pangolins in Nigeria is the collective responsibility of all citizens.
Morenikeji said that poachers have turned to Africa to supply tons of pangolins to the Asian market, and if left unchecked the mammal will go into extinction.
“It is seen as a delicacy and sign of affluence in China and because of the huge demand from Asia, poachers have turned to Africa for pangolins to supply the Asian market,” she said.
She noted that pangolins which are marked by large, hardened, overlapping plate-like scales made of keratin—the same material as human fingernails—are important to both regional and global biodiversity as well as soil fertility because of the soil aeration they do.
Speaking on the theme ‘Pangolins and Politics’ Muhtari Aminu-Kano, director general, Nigerian Conversation Foundation (NCF) said that money is the link between pangolin and politics.
According to him a kilogram of pangolin scales cost between $10,000- $15,000 in the United States.
“Anywhere you talk about the money involved in pangolin you know politics is involved. The people involved must be well connected and influential and in order to stop the illegal trade we need to address the political dimension,” Aminu-Kano said.
“There are several ways we can address the political dimension and the top among them is for us to better enforce the law on endangered wildlife, create more awareness and education, provide alternative livelihood to hunters and address the issue of the porousity of our ports and borders,” he added.
“Pangolin is less known among Nigerian and the main reason is because they are nocturnal. The pangolins use to be found all across Nigeria especially in the savannah but they are not easily found there now.”
In Chinese traditional medicine, pangolin scales are believed to treat many ailments and diseases. These include skin disorders, infected wounds and even heart disease. Similar beliefs also exist in some parts of Nigeria.
The event which was organised by PCWGN and the NCF also had in attendance children and students from various primary and secondary schools in Lagos to educate and create awareness of pangolins in schools.
Josephine Okojie
