Nigeria destroyed 2.5 tons of seized elephant tusks worth $11.2 million on Tuesday as part of a campaign to curb wildlife trafficking.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of the fight against the illegal ivory trade. Today’s ivory crushing is a symbol of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation and the protection of our natural heritage,” said Isiak Salako, Minister of State for Environment.
Salako said his country has a firm stance on the illegal trade that threatens the existence of elephants, calling on the world community to cooperate with them.
He said the powder from the crushed tusks would be used to build a symbolic national park monument in the country’s capital.
Nigeria is fighting the illegal collection of elephant tusks. The country was suspended from CITES in 1989 due to the rise of illegal wildlife trade and poor enforcement of conservation regulations. The suspension was lifted in 2011.
CITES is a legally binding multilateral treaty that aims to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade, AA writes.
