Onoh commends Nigeria customs’ seizure of 347 snakes, scorpions destined for export

By Dennis Agbo

The Founder of Woodland Park Zoo, Coal City, Enugu, and Chairman of Tenerife Hospitality Group, Dr. Josef Onoh, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for intercepting and seizing 17 unrecorded scorpions and 340 snakes astatine the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The NCS said the seizure, made precocious by its operatives, was a usurpation of the Convention connected International Trade successful Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Reacting, Onoh described the interception arsenic a important triumph successful the combat against amerciable wildlife trade, noting that specified practices undermine biodiversity and airs ecological risks.

He explained that the amerciable commercialized successful wildlife has planetary consequences, including the hazard of spreading diseases, depletion of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystems.

“The NCS’s proactive involution successful this lawsuit sends a almighty message: Nigeria volition not tolerate the exploitation of its earthy practice for illicit gain,” Onoh said.

He further praised the enactment of Comptroller Michael Awe of the Murtala Muhammed Area Command for what helium described arsenic a beardown committedness to CITES enforcement.

According to Onoh, reptiles specified arsenic snakes and scorpions play an important relation successful pest power and biodiversity support, and their amerciable commercialized threatens ecological balance.

He besides highlighted ongoing efforts by the NCS successful collaboration with conservation organizations to curb wildlife trafficking, noting that specified actions align with the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime (2022–2026).

Onoh said helium was optimistic that the seized animals would beryllium handed implicit to the due authorities for attraction and rehabilitation, portion the interception would assistance reshape Nigeria’s estimation successful conservation and wildlife protection.

The station Onoh commends Nigeria customs’ seizure of 347 snakes, scorpions destined for export appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.