H.E. Mr Abdul Bin Rimdap, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, visited the CMS Secretariat in Bonn on 5 October to discuss a range of current issues. The Ambassador has a long experience in international institutions, in particular in human rights and as member of Nigeria’s negotiating delegation for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

In his meeting with CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth, the Ambassador stressed the importance to his country of international agreements, which are binding on parties and can be legally enforced. As a result, they will have a greater chance of successful implementation.

A particular focus of the talks was the forthcoming negotiation in Paris later this month of a new CMS Agreement for the Conservation of Gorillas, in which Nigeria will be a key actor because of its population of endangered Cross River Gorillas. These isolated Nigeria-Cameroon lowland gorillas have been recognised as the subspecies Gorilla gorilla diehli. The Ambassador stressed Nigeria's support for a binding agreement to be negotiated under CMS. The Executive Secretary felt encouraged by Nigeria's position, which is believed to be shared by other key range states including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the end of his visit, the Executive Secretary presented the Ambassador with a special CMS crystal key ring and looked toward to future meetings in Berlin or Bonn.

Meeting on Gorillas