Nigeria Suspended From Wildlife Trade Pact

Abuja, Nigeria (AHN) - Nigeria has been suspended from the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) after it failed to respect the organization's rules on illegal trade in endangered species.

Fidelis Omeni, who monitors the country's adherence to the international pact, said Thursday that Nigerian authorities had made insufficient progress in curbing illicit traffic. Many cities in Nigeria are known to encourage banned trade in endangered wildlife from within and outside the country.

The suspension means a total ban on imports or exports of every species of fauna and flora. All exports were earlier covered under the convention that was ratified in 1974.

The west African nation was already warned in 1974 over breaches concerning the traffic of protected animal species.

CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The agreement was drawn up between 1963 and 1973 and has been ratified by 172 parties.

The convention is administered by the UN Environment Program.