Environment
National Parks Services Arrests 20 illegal loggers
…Pledges to Ensure Sanity In Nigeria Parks
Joel Ajayi
Conservator-General of National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni has revealed that about 20 illegal loggers were arrested in different park across the country.
Dr Goni reiterated the park commitment to eliminate activities of Bandit, kidnappers in all parks across the country through the numerous strategies and modus operandi.
While Speaking Abuja on Wednesday during a press conference to update the public on the outcome of the recent joint patrol carried out at the Kainji Lake National Park he said that, 20 illegal loggers were arrested who had different sizes of trucks, some articulated trucks, loaded with timber were arrested by the joint patrol team.
According to him, the recent collective collaboration between securities agencies and community is yielding serious result as 20 illegal loggers arrested in different park across the country.
“Indeed, the collaborative efforts paying off and will effectively degrade the activities of bandits and other criminal elements within our Parks and the surrounding communities.
“It is worthy to note that this operation was successful because of the vital information shared to the Service and which is a crucial role every person in Nigeria should play.
“It is pivotal in decisively checking the activities of criminals
“About twenty (20) number of illegal loggers who had different sizes of trucks, some articulated trucks, loaded with timber were arrested by the joint patrol team.
“Trespassers will eventually be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.”
He assured the public that the management of the Park will continue to strive very hard to keep the sanity and integrity of our Parks.
“The Park, just like other forest reserves, has challenges such as illegal poaching, grazing, logging and fishing, and we have remained committed to attaining the desired status of a tourist destination for legal visitors
“The Management of the Park is fully aware of the security situation of the areas within our legal jurisdiction and as such, we are closing ranks with other relevant stakeholders to curb the daunting challenges associated with our operations.
“We will always evaluate, re-strategies and reinvigorate our ongoing operations to stem the tide of growing security threats around the Parks and adjoining communities
“We, therefore, call for continuous support from our host communities in this fight against illegal activities at our Parks and their environs.”
He therefore, urged Nigerians not to rest on their oars until normalcy is completely restored to our dear country.
C-G also revealed the park is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the staff are properly train and re-train: “We don’t joke with training of our staff as new trend emerges, there is need to also equipped our men to enable them standout.
He also thanked the securities agencies: “these collaborations, which are a continuing exercise, would help to speedily restore peace and stability at our Parks, the host communities and Nigeria as a whole.”
Environment
Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria
By Joel Ajayi
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, has officially launched the Clean Oceans Plastic Awareness Campaign in Nigeria, aiming to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.
The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday at Jabi Lake, Abuja, with a strong message of environmental responsibility, especially for Nigeria’s youth.
The initiative is designed to raise awareness about plastic pollution, encourage proper waste disposal, and promote environmental stewardship—particularly around the country’s waterways.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director and CEO of the Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, emphasized that the campaign is part of a global Commonwealth-wide effort to curb plastic waste and protect ocean ecosystems.
He highlighted the critical role of sports as a tool for engaging young people and driving meaningful change in environmental behavior.
“The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and nearly half of its member countries are Small Island Developing States that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution,” Bayewumi noted.
According to him, the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to prevent at least one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign blends grassroots education with direct community action, urging people to reduce their plastic footprint, embrace alternatives, and promote cleaner oceans.
A major component of the campaign is its integration with the King’s Baton Relay—a hallmark of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. In a groundbreaking move, the 2025-2026 relay will spotlight sustainability and environmental protection, beginning with its launch by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025. The Baton Relay is now on a 500-day journey across all Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In each country, including Nigeria, the Baton Relay will bring together youth, athletes, local communities, and environmental groups for a week of activities—most notably, organized plastic clean-up drives.
The urgency of this campaign is underlined by alarming statistics: the world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, with over 12 million tonnes ending up in the oceans.
Without urgent action, scientists predict that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.
Plastic waste poses a deadly threat to marine life—suffocating birds, fish, and mammals while damaging key ecosystems.
Moreover, as plastics break down into microplastics due to ocean erosion and sunlight, they enter our food, water, and even air.
Although the full health implications of microplastics remain unknown, early research suggests they may disrupt vital bodily functions—and there is currently no method to fully remove them from the environment or our bodies.
The campaign supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 12: Responsible, Consumption and ProductionSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water
It also reflects the core principles of the Commonwealth Charter, especially: Article 9: Sustainable Development. Article 10: Protection of the Environment and Article 14: Recognition of the Needs of Small States
As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges, the Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign represents a significant step in uniting nations, communities, and young leaders under a shared mission: to protect our oceans, preserve biodiversity, and build a cleaner, safer world for future generations.
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