April 22, (THEWILL) — The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in partnership with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has launched a statewide campaign in Akwa Ibom to curb the rapid loss of endangered plant and animal species, warning that human activities are accelerating the biodiversity decline.
The sensitisation drive, flagged off in Uyo on Tuesday, targets rising threats to wildlife such as vultures and pangolins, as well as economic tree species like mahogany, which officials say are being depleted by deforestation, illegal logging, poaching, and unsustainable farming practices.
State Director of NOA, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, described the situation as urgent, linking biodiversity loss to broader environmental, cultural, and economic consequences for the state.
He stressed that conservation efforts must move beyond policy into community action, urging residents to take ownership of protecting forest reserves and restoring degraded ecosystems through tree planting and sustainable land use.
NESREA’s State Coordinator, Mfon Uko Nkanang, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to NOA, reaffirmed the agency’s enforcement role, noting that existing regulations would be strengthened to ensure compliance and accountability for environmental violations.
The renewed collaboration builds on an existing memorandum of understanding between both agencies, aimed at improving public awareness and enforcement of environmental standards.
Officials called on residents to avoid products derived from endangered species, support conservation initiatives, and promote environmental education at the grassroots, framing the campaign as a collective responsibility to safeguard the state’s natural heritage.
