In a bold step toward wildlife conservation awareness, Muhasa TV and Radio has partnered with Wild Africa to launch a new wildlife series, Dabbobi da Muhalli (Wildlife and the Environment), aimed at educating audiences in Kano and neighboring states about the importance of protecting Nigeria’s iconic wildlife and natural habitats.
Airing biweekly on its radio and TV platforms, this 20-minute programme will address urgent environmental issues such as deforestation, poaching, the illegal wildlife trade, and the declining populations of key species like lions and elephants. Dabbobi da Muhalli will also feature expert insights to provide more information about the region’s wildlife and stunning national parks.
Nigeria’s wildlife is in crisis. Over the past three decades, species such as lions, elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas have been pushed to the brink of extinction. Current estimates suggest that Nigeria has fewer than 400 elephants, 100 Cross River gorillas, and only 50 lions in the wild.
Additionally, Nigeria has become a key transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade, with elephant ivory and pangolin scales smuggled through the country to Asia. The increasing demand for bushmeat also threatens endangered species and poses serious public health risks by exposing people to zoonotic diseases like Ebola, anthrax, and Mpox.
As northern Nigeria grapples with a decline in its iconic wildlife, such as lions and elephants, alongside increasing human-wildlife conflict, promoting conservation programmes that offer reliable and timely information to audiences and motivating local policymakers to safeguard the region’s wildlife for future generations is essential.
Despite the urgency of these issues, wildlife and environmental concerns are often overlooked in Nigerian media, where politics, sports, and entertainment dominate the airwaves.
Radio remains one of the most effective ways to reach audiences in northern Nigeria. Its passive audio format allows listeners to engage in daily activities such as farming or trading. By leveraging Muhasa TV and Radio’s extensive reach, Dabbobi da Muhalli will directly bring vital environmental discussions to those unaware of current conservation issues.
The first season of Dabbobi da Muhalli will emphasize the importance of wildlife conservation, highlighting national parks and distinctive wildlife in northern Nigeria. It will also examine the issues of illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss while exploring the potential for wildlife tourism.
The program will feature interviews with wildlife experts, park rangers, government officials, and local conservationists actively working to protect the region’s wildlife and national parks. They will share their experiences, challenges, and solutions for safeguarding Nigeria’s wildlife. Listeners will also be encouraged to call in and share their views, making Dabbobi da Muhalli an interactive platform for dialogue and action.
Speaking about the partnership, Muhasa TV and Radio’s General Manager Aishatu Sule said: ” We are excited to partner with Wild Africa on a wildlife conservation project using our multiple platforms of radio, TV, and the web to create awareness of the need to protect our heritage from extinction. ”
“Our wildlife is under threat, and if we don’t act now, future generations may never see them again. This is why we are partnering with another radio and TV platform in the region to raise awareness and inspire action to protect our natural heritage,” said Wild Africa Nigeria Representative Festus Iyorah, who emphasized the significance of expanding conservation awareness beyond major cities in the south, such as Lagos, to other cities in the northern region.
Dabbobi da Muhalli (Wildlife and the Environment) will air every Friday from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm WAT, with a repeat broadcast on Sunday from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm WAT on Muhasa TV and Radio. The program will also be available for streaming on the Muhasa TV and Radio website.
