In a press statement on Thursday, the former President of the Nigerian Association of Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Parks, Francis Abioye, has called for an investigation into the alleged looting of COVID-19 palliatives intended for zoos in Nigeria.
Abioye claims that the neglect of the Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Parks has led to constant attacks on zookeepers by wild animals, resulting in the death of three zookeepers in the past four years.
He argues that the lack of safety tools and necessary funds for zoo rehabilitation is to blame for these tragic incidents. Abioye urges President Bola Tinubu to take action and ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families. He also calls for the importation of safety equipment, such as dart guns, to enhance the safety of zookeepers.
Abioye believes that the looting of funds intended for the development of zoos is worsening an already distressed industry and highlights the importance of valuing and supporting the nation’s conservation heroes.
The looting of palliatives meant for zoos killed a zookeeper at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University, not a lion, according to the former President of the Association of Zoological Gardens.
He said, “In February, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife announced the death of a zookeeper in the school by a lion. According to the school, the zookeeper, identified as Mr Olabode Olawuyi, had been ‘taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about 9 years ago but, tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them’.”
Regarding the tragic incident, Abioye said, “The incidence of the unfortunate lion attack on late Mr Olawuyi Olabode cannot escape my mind easily. I kept thinking about his courageous thoughts during his last moments when faced with obvious danger.
“Such uncommon virtue needs to be honored and celebrated by any responsible nation.
“It was not the lion in the zoo that killed late Olabode. He only happened to be one of the direct victims of the looted palliative meant for the rehabilitation of our zoos in Nigeria.
“He would probably not have been a victim of such a harrowing professional hazard.”
Abioye said Nigeria has “lost at least three zookeepers to lion attacks in the last four years”.
“Yet, the government is doing nothing to end the recurrence of such unjust harrowing deaths of our colleagues and friends,” he said.
He noted that the university should not be blamed for Olabode’s death, saying, “There is an erroneous view that the university management was responsible for the tragic incident. Let me make this clarification that the problem is beyond the university management, who have been stripped of financial autonomy, who could not employ workers for sensitive departments and units due to the embargo placed on employment by our politicians.
“The unjust death of the dedicated veterinary staff of the zoo would not have happened if the government had put the following in place; palliative allocated to the zoos and Wildlife Parks was released since COVID. Unfortunately, the fund was looted with impunity, and the leftover is still being looted by politicians.
“Most nations of the world did not delay in releasing huge palliative to the zoos and Wildlife sector during the COVID because they know the socioeconomic importance of the sector to their national economy.
“The United Kingdom has over 350 zoos, and the sector contributes £645m to the UK economy annually. This figure is equivalent to N1.322 Trillion, which is about the entire budget of the Nigerian Education Sector.
“The little money (N200m to N500m) would have changed the narrative of our zoos if it has been released to reposition all our zoos in Nigeria and put necessary safety protocols and a required working environment in place.
“Instead, the CBN is still mismanaging the COVID-19 palliative to critical sectors affected by COVID. “The Nigerian Zoos and Wildlife Parks as one of the affected industries would have taken many thousands of youths out of joblessness and contributed significantly to our national economic growth through tourism and indirect employment of the trading locals. We must challenge the looters.”
According to the statement, many zoos lack necessary safety equipment, including a dart gun for emergencies. It was noted that the National Security Adviser to the President is responsible for issuing the license, which has taken over a year to obtain.
He continued, “Lack of justifiable hazard allowance to our zookeepers. While I was the National President of NAZAP, I spearheaded the fight for hazard allowance for zoo staff in Imo State, but it has been removed now because the government felt it is too much for the staff who are exposed to such high risk.
“Our zookeepers across the nation are still taking unjust risks while working with dangerous wild animals without comparable hazard allowances to date. “Instead, the legislative arm is earning undeserving hazard allowances for sitting at their convenient days in a conducive legislative chamber that is well protected and secured. However, our colleagues are allowed to face such professional hazards.
“We have recorded casualties of many zookeepers in Nigeria. The unfortunate thing is that the wives and children they left behind are often abandoned.
“Dear President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen Bola Amed Tinubu, please investigate what happened to the COVID-19 palliative meant to strengthen the Nigerian zoos industry for the sake of justice.
“Our zoos were already distressed before the COVID-19 outbreak, and no single zoo has recovered from the further devastating impacts of COVID-19.
“We all know what a lion can do whenever a zookeeper makes such a mistake to come in contact with the big cat. So, the action of the lion is expected. What is not expected is the looting of the funds meant to develop all the zoos in Nigeria.
“Also, I appeal to the current National Security Adviser to make it easy for zoos to import dart guns and other safety equipment.
“It is so sad, we lost you! It is painful that Mr Olawuyi Olabode has gone just like that.
“What else can move the oppressors of our nation? When will our nation value its faithful heroes like the late Mr Olawuyi Olabode? I would have been killed unjustly in line with my conservation duty too, if not for God’s mercy that rescued me.
“We are losing many good men and women as a consequence of corruption and government failure.
“This sacrificial and heroic death of our friend, colleague, and brother should not go unrewarded by our nation. His family must not be abandoned.
“God will raise a positive voice for the family you left behind and console them all.”
