Customs Moves To Train Officers On Combat Against Illegal Wildlife Trade warns perpetrators to steer clear

Customs Moves To Train Officers On Combat Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

warns perpetrators to steer clear

As it continues to maintain concerted efforts to bring an end to illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is putting modalities in place to extend capacity building in this area to all officers and men of the service.

This follows support from a team of international partners, including the United States, particularly in training expertise and technology to boost the facilities on the ground at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.

The Commandant, Compt. Haniel Hadison, led the partners in an on-the-spot assessment of the facilities in the Customs Training College (CTC) on Monday, where he informed them that the facility was ready to receive their support.

“We have officers willing to learn, and we, the management of the college, are also ready to give every support to achieve the set objectives, he stated.”

He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the customs’ management team for their continued support of the Special Wildlife Office.

Entertaining 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, noting that “that is why the college, being where the wildlife office of Nigeria 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 wildlife trafficking.

“So far, so good; it has been an excellent outing, and there is much for Nigeria Customs, particularly the Wildlife Office, to achieve from our international partners.

“They (partners) are bringing in their expertise, their 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.

“Recently, he particularly laid much emphasis on collaboration. Nigeria Customs cannot attain set objectives without collaborating with relevant organisations, and that is what we are experiencing at the  moment,” Hadison held.

Speaking on the institution’s areas of need for capacity building, Hadison stated: “Now that everything is centred 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.

“Particularly, there is a need to train our officers and men in the use of drones and other tech apparatus at the borders, airports, seaports, and even within the system, as well as in ungoverned spaces. The use of technology will help the Nigeria Customs to carry out its functions, particularly as it regards enforcement.”

He further 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 them,” 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, and it means more successes for the future.”

With their partnership, “we are going to improve on the training we have been having. Before now, we’ve trained, may be a fraction, but now we want to embark on training the whole of Nigeria Customs, and I know that is very possible with the kind of partners that we have 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 and to know where to step in in terms of capacity building.

“So, the capacity building will now go far and wide; we want to train practically all officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, and this is what this exercise has come to establish—a needs assessment.

“Then, the next step 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 the ground.

“We just need a few things, like the commandant has mentioned: power (for the classrooms), smart screens, which they have promised to give, and other resources to support what we have on the ground.

“The Nigeria Customs Service already has the facilities; it is just about bringing them to standard.”

For training accessibility and safety purposes, a place is being constructed for the intercepted wildlife items on the premises of the college following a “strategic order,”  she revealed.