As part of efforts to curb the practice of illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is concluding arrangements to extend capacity building for all officers.
Meanwhile, a team of international partners, including a United States’ delegation promised assistance in training expertise and technology to boost the facilities on ground at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.
Leading the partners in an on-the-spot assessment of the facilities in the Customs Training College (CTC), on Monday, the Commandant, Comptroller Haniel Hadison, told the visitors that the facility was ready to receive their support.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the customs’ management team for their continued support to the Special Wildlife Office.
Fielding questions after the tour, Hadison said the NCS, especially the wildlife office is also a part of the United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) celebration, and “that is why the college, being where the wildlife office of Customs is domiciled, is hosting our international partners and their donors”
“We are using this opportunity also to showcase how far we have journeyed in the fight against illegal trafficking in wildlife. It has been an excellent outing, and there is much for the Nigeria Customs, particularly the Wildlife Office to achieve from our international partners.
“The partners are bringing in their expertise, technocrats, and their level of knowledge for us to tap from. Above all, it is going to be an added value, particularly as it relates to the CGC’s clarion call for capacity building,” he said.
Speaking on the institution’s areas of need for the capacity building, Hadison identified technology and the expert capabilities and competencies in the use of technology in the fight against illegal activities.
Meanwhile, he warned perpetrators of illegal wildlife trade and trafficking that the agency remains opposed to such crimes.
“Everyday, our officers make arrests, and a lot of investigations and prosecutions are ongoing. They should desist from these illegal activities. There is no room for the illegal practice,” he stated.
On her part, the officer in charge of the NCS Special Wildlife Unit, Abimbola Isafiade, commended the visit of the collaborators, stating that it means the agency is improving as the world is improving to attain more successes in the future.
With their partnership, “we are going to improve on the trainings we have been having. Before now we’ve trained, may be a fraction, now we want to embark on training the whole of the Nigeria Customs, and I know that is very possible with the kind of partners that we have got now.”
“In addition to the Wildlife Justice Commission,Focused Conservation,Wildlife Conservation Society and many others, we are now partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. We had a meeting last month, where they pledged their support, and here they have come to assess the environment to see what facilities we have, to know where to step in, in terms of capacity building.”
“So, the capacity building will go far and wide; we want to train practically all officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service and this is what this exercise has come to establish a NEEDS assessment. The next is to begin the training for all officers on understanding what it takes to combat illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.”
According to her, the training is expected to begin in the next couple of months, with the facilities and trainers/experts already on ground.
