Nigerian Politicians Trading Conservation Centres for the Rich’s Comfort

Nigeria, a country with reserved sanctuaries rich in flora and fauna, is still battling conservation issues. With rapid urban development and rising economic hardship, the government is selling zoological gardens and their surrounding rainforests, converting them into upscale residential estates for the rich.

It started about two decades ago in Enugu state. The government relocated and sold wildlife in the zoo located in the city, then graded, allocated, and sold the land to politicians and the wealthy business class. The area, with luxury homes and hotels, is now known as Zoo Estate. The streets in the estate currently bear the names of the former occupants of the land—Leopard Street, Tiger Street, Lion Avenue, etc.

Imo, Enugu’s neighboring state, has the only surviving zoo in southeast Nigeria, and it has suffered decades of neglect. In 2023, the government shut down the historic zoo, and the animals were moved to Jos Wildlife Park. The zoo and its 10 hectares of reserved rainforest have been cleared to pave the way for a high-brow estate. The legal tussle over ownership of the virgin land has created a conflict between the Indigenous community and the government, and the case has reached the country’s supreme court.

This reporter will visit Enugu and Imo states to investigate how the government in the region is destroying its natural resources and transforming them into a paradise for the rich, with dire implications for the country’s conservation tourism.