Blessing Taiwo
In commemoration of International Vulture Awareness Day 2026, a non-governmental organisation, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), has called for urgent and collective action to halt the illegal killing and sale of vultures in Nigeria.
The nature conservation organisation warned that the vulture population is rapidly declining and moving toward extinction in the country.
According to NCF in a release on Saturday, “Of the seven vulture species found in Nigeria, four are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List: The Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, and White-headed Vulture. The situation is most dire for the Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus, once a common sight in Nigerian cities and abattoirs.
“The species has declined by an estimated 95% since the early 2000s. Research indicates that Nigeria has become a major hub for regional trade. An estimated 73% of vulture carcasses traded across West Africa pass through Nigerian markets.
“Often misunderstood because of their association with death, vultures provide a critical ecological service. By rapidly consuming carcasses and organic waste, they help keep the environment clean and limit the spread of diseases from dead animals to humans and wildlife.
“Across Africa, vulture populations have declined by between 80% and 97% over the past five decades, with several species now facing extinction.”
It stated that the West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan (WAVCAP) has identified Nigeria and Benin as key hubs for cross-border vulture trading.
The Director General of the NCF, Joseph Onoja, noted that Nigeria is at the centre of the regional conservation challenge including the illegal trade in vulture parts.
Onoja warned, “we cannot continue to lose these birds to poisoning, illegal killing and trafficking and expect our ecosystems to remain healthy.
“Cases of vulture killing for belief-based use have been reported across the 16 countries covered by the plan. Conservationists say the transboundary nature of the trade means protecting Nigeria’s vultures will require stronger cooperation between countries, law enforcement agencies, conservation groups and local communities.”
He called on the federal government to prioritise enforcement of existing wildlife protection laws, implement the adoption West African Vulture Conservation Action Plan (WAVCAP) and establish vulture safe zones.
The DG stressed the need for collaboration among government agencies, conservation organisations, traditional medicine practitioners, communities, and neighbouring countries — particularly Niger, Benin and Cameroon to tackle the crisis.
He noted that the NCF had engaged traditional medicine practitioners to promote understanding of vultures’ ecological role and to encourage plant-based alternatives for belief-based practices; also conducting satellite tagging, population surveys, conservation education, and community engagement to map threats and build local support for vulture protection.
He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to working with government, communities, researchers, traditional institutions, law enforcement agencies, conservation organisations and other stakeholders to halt the decline of Nigeria’s vultures.
“We are calling on Nigerians to reject the purchase or use of illegally sourced vulture parts, avoid patronizing wildlife traders, and report suspected wildlife crimes to the relevant authorities,” Dr. Onoja stated.
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