The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has honoured the Baale of Okun Igando in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Chief Semiu Waliu Jejelaiye, and Green Fingers Wildlife International for preventing the killing of an endangered leatherback sea turtle and ensuring its safe return to its natural habitat.
The Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, presented the awards of commendation to the traditional ruler and the wildlife conservation organisation on Wednesday, describing their intervention as an act of environmental heroism worthy of emulation by communities across the country.
The recognition followed an incident in which fishermen caught the leatherback turtle, prompting Jejelaiye to intervene and prevent community members from killing the animal while awaiting the arrival of the conservation organisation.
Green Fingers Wildlife International subsequently responded, assessed the animal and facilitated its safe return to its natural habitat.
Barikor said the intervention demonstrated the critical role traditional institutions and community-based organisations could play in protecting endangered wildlife and preserving Nigeria’s biodiversity.
“We are here to honour you and your community for this act and to tell you that we will use this community as a point of action in advocacy on endangered species,” he said.
In a letter of commendation to Jejelaiye, the NESREA chief praised the traditional ruler for mobilising community members, protecting the animal from exploitation and promptly notifying the relevant environmental authorities to ensure its proper handling and release.
“Your swift action in mobilising community members, ensuring the safety of the animal, preventing its exploitation, and promptly notifying relevant environmental authorities for proper handling and release back into its natural habitat is a demonstration of true environmental stewardship,” the letter stated.
Barikor also commended Green Fingers Wildlife International for its conservation advocacy, public sensitisation and technical intervention in the rescue operation.
In its commendation letter to the organisation, NESREA noted that the leatherback turtle was the largest of all living sea turtles and was protected under Nigeria’s National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in Domestic and International Trade) Regulations and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The agency praised the organisation’s prompt response, technical expertise, humane handling of the animal and adherence to best practices in ensuring its safe assessment and return to its natural habitat.
Barikor said protecting endangered species was central to NESREA’s responsibility to safeguard biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
“At the Agency, our mandate includes protecting biodiversity, maintaining the ecosystem and ensuring that no animal goes extinct, because if they become extinct, the environment begins to suffer some challenges,” he said.
He commended the traditional ruler, the community and the conservation organisation for supporting biodiversity protection, stressing the importance of collective action in preventing wildlife extinction.
The recognition underscores the importance of community participation in wildlife conservation, particularly in coastal areas where interactions between fishermen and marine animals can expose vulnerable species to harm.
The leatherback sea turtle is a marine species protected under Nigerian environmental regulations and international wildlife trade controls. Its protection is important to broader efforts to conserve marine biodiversity and discourage the killing or exploitation of threatened wildlife.
NESREA said Okun Igando would serve as a focal community for advocacy on endangered species, signalling an effort to encourage local leaders and residents to take greater responsibility for protecting wildlife.
The awards recognise the role of traditional leadership and conservation organisations in ensuring that the rescue of vulnerable animals becomes a model for environmental responsibility in other communities.
