The Federal Government has approved the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), a crucial framework packed with ambitious goals to significantly enhance the nation’s biodiversity.
The Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, validated the plan on Wednesday in Abuja at a workshop organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Persecondnews reporter, who covered the event, reports that global attention is focussed on an ambitious biodiversity agenda and Nigeria is looking towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its far-reaching goals and targets.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a global agreement adopted in 2022 by the Convention on Biological Diversity to guide efforts to protect and restore biodiversity up to 2030.
This framework comprises 23 global targets and four global goals, with the aim of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Forestry, Dr. Moses Amah, the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s crucial role in the 2022 development of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Nigeria, along with the broader ECOWAS region, was a key negotiator, successfully promoting its priorities and recognized as a vital stakeholder in the document’s final version.
He said: “At the meeting in Montreal, the Nigerian negotiators were invited to meet directly with the Chinese Presidency to articulate their concerns, which resulted in many of their priorities being reflected in the final agreement adopted by consensus.
“I believe, therefore, that it is now strongly incumbent upon us to demonstrate our full commitment towards comprehensive national implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
“We need to demonstrate that we took the framework back to Nigeria and developed a robust National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that will enable Nigeria to meet the framework’s global goals and targets.
“I am proud to say that we have strived tirelessly to achieve our aims, and we have succeeded. Nigeria’s revised and updated NBSAP is broad in its ambition and contains all-embracing targets that, when implemented, will truly make a difference to Nigeria’s biodiversity landscape.
“Target 1 alone will have a massive impact; this target reads: “By 2030, all areas are effectively managed to bring loss of areas of high biodiversity importance close to zero” ,I am truly excited to be part of ensuring that this target and all the other targets become a reality.
“As is clearly articulated in the NBSAP, Nigeria is blessed with some of the richest biodiversity in Africa, with diverse ecosystems and magnificent wild fauna and flora, including many endemic species.”
He also said: “This impressive biodiversity is not only interwoven into our economy, ecology, and culture; it also delivers a plethora of ecosystem services. It ensures we have food to eat, medicine when we’re sick, fresh water to drink, and healthy soils in which to grow our crops.
“The wellbeing of all Nigerians is strongly reliant on the health of the environment around us. It therefore gives me great pleasure today to formally validate this National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2025-2030.
“Implementing the NBSAP will be a significant task, but I am confident that with perseverance, persistence, and dedication from all stakeholders, we can implement this NBSAP for the benefit of everyone.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for your steadfast support, hard work, expertise, and devotion to the task so far. We have taken the first step, but if we are to reach the top, we will need to work diligently as a united front. I am confident that together, we can achieve a great deal.”
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Adam Kambari, said the event underscores their collective commitment to safeguarding the nation’s rich biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
He said: “Biodiversity is not just about conservation; it is the foundation of our ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. As a country blessed with diverse flora and fauna, it is our duty to develop strategic frameworks that promote the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of these invaluable resources.
“This validation workshop marks a crucial milestone in our efforts. Over the past few months, experts, policymakers, and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to review and refine the NBSAP to align with global best practices and national priorities.
“Today, as we come together to validate this document, we reaffirm our dedication to translating these strategies into actionable solutions. I urge all participants to engage in constructive discussions, provide valuable insights, and ensure that this plan truly reflects our collective vision.
“Your contributions will help shape policies that foster biodiversity conservation while balancing developmental needs. Once again, I extend my heartfelt welcome to each of you. I am confident that, through our collaborative efforts, we will lay the groundwork for a more resilient and ecologically sustainable Nigeria.”
In her goodwill message, the Director General and CEO of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, said the workshop represents more than just a technical review process.
“It is a collective step forward in safeguarding Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and aligning national priorities with global commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
“At NBMA, our primary responsibility is to ensure that modern biotechnology is applied safely and responsibly, with full regard for the protection of the environment, human health, and biological resources. Biosafety is, at its core, a safeguard for biodiversity.
“As we chart the course for the implementation of the revised NBSAP, I want to reaffirm NBMA’s unwavering commitment to supporting this national strategy, not just in words, but through meaningful action.
“We are, and will continue to, embed the goals of the NBSAP into our programmes, policies, and budgets, ensuring that biosafety and biodiversity conservation remain central to our daily work.
“We are also actively engaging with donor agencies and international development partners to attract the funding and technical support needed to drive innovation and impact. We recognise the value of collaboration, and we are eager to explore new partnerships, especially with platforms like the Global Environment Facility.
“The private sector also has an important role to play. We are working to bring in key players from the biotech and agri-based industries to support biodiversity conservation through corporate social responsibility initiatives and joint programmes that reflect shared values and responsibilities.
“Furthermore, we are investing in the capacity of our people, because no strategy can succeed without skilled and knowledgeable personnel. From technical training to institutional strengthening, we are committed to building the expertise needed to drive the NBSAP forward.”
Also present at the event is Mrs Marlyn Omondi, representative of the BES-Net initiative, UNDP Nature Hub.
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