By Stephen Ojo
Minna
The Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office says it has adopt stringent measures to support current global effort to end wildlife crimes and trafficking in the country.
The Commandant of Customs Training College, Compt. Haniel Hadison disclosed this while speaking with Journalists on the activities marking World Wildlife Day on Tuesday, March 5 in Minna, the Niger State capital.
” The Nigeria Customs Service in its determination to further develop the capacity of officers and men of the service in actualizing its objectives of curbing illegal trade in wildlife, held meetings with a team of International partners and the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) in Lagos recently “.
He explained that NCS will further get training assistance to develop expertise, in addition to the provision of modern teaching aids to boost the facilities on ground at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.
“The Nigeria Customs Service already has the facilities, it is just about bringing them up to standard. Nigeria Customs cannot attain set objectives without collaborating with relevant organisations, and that is what we are experiencing at the moment” he said.
Hadison applauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the customs’ management team for their continued support to the Special Wildlife Office of the service.
On the celebration of United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD), Mr Hadison revealed that the wildlife office is re-strategizing, adding that, “that is why the college, being where the wildlife office of the Nigeria Customs is domiciled, is hosting our international partners and their Donors.”
Also speaking on the institution’s areas of need for the capacity building, Hadison stated, “Now that everything is built around technology, we would need them (international partners) to bring in their capabilities and competencies in the use of technology in the fight against illegal activities”.
He warned perpetrators of illegal wildlife trade and trafficking that the agency remains resolute in fighting such crimes in the country, adding that the training is expected to begin in the next few months.
The officer in charge of the NCS Special Wildlife Office, Abimbola Isafiade, said that the capacity building will go far in placing officers in better position in combating illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife.