Bushmeat Trade in Nigeria Linked to Ebola, Mpox, Lassa Fever—Group Calls for Ban

A leading conservation and public health advocacy organization, Wild Africa Conservation Initiative (WACI), has called on the Nigerian government to immediately ban the trade and consumption of bushmeat, warning that it poses a serious threat to human health and the country’s biodiversity.

The group raised concerns about the increasing risk of deadly zoonotic diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, and Mpox (monkeypox), which are often linked to human contact with infected wild animals commonly hunted and sold as bushmeat.

In a statement released over the weekend, WACI warned that unless urgent measures are taken to curb the bushmeat trade, Nigeria could face more outbreaks of infectious diseases with the potential to become public health emergencies.

“Bushmeat may seem like a traditional delicacy, but it is a ticking time bomb. Every bite increases the risk of the next pandemic,” said Dr. Chinedu Ugwu, a wildlife disease expert and advisor to the group.

WACI pointed to multiple scientific studies and past outbreak investigations that trace the spread of zoonotic diseases to wildlife handling and consumption. According to the group:

Ebola outbreaks in West and Central Africa have been tied to the consumption of infected primates and fruit bats.

Lassa fever, which is endemic in Nigeria, is spread through contact with infected rodents—many of which are captured and sold in rural bushmeat markets.

Mpox, which has seen a resurgence in Nigeria, also originates from contact with wild animals such as monkeys and rodents.

The conservation group also raised the alarm over the rapid decline in Nigeria’s wildlife populations due to poaching and illegal bushmeat trade, warning that endangered species like chimpanzees and pangolins are at risk of extinction.

As part of its recommendations, WACI is calling on the Federal Government, particularly the Ministries of Environment, Health, and Agriculture, to:

Enforce a nationwide ban on the bushmeat trade and consumption.

Launch public education campaigns on the dangers of zoonotic disease transmission from wildlife.

Provide alternative sources of income for communities dependent on bushmeat for survival.

Global health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have consistently identified the bushmeat trade as a major driver of emerging infectious diseases, especially in tropical regions.

With Nigeria grappling with recurring outbreaks of Lassa fever and a recent surge in Mpox cases, experts say the country cannot afford to ignore the warning signs.

“If we don’t act now, we risk turning cultural practices into global health crises,” WACI warned.

The group stressed that banning bushmeat is not just an environmental issue but a public health imperative, urging the government to adopt a holistic “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.