Abuja: The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reversing forest loss and strengthening wildlife protection through policy reforms, legislation, and multi-sector partnerships. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the commitment in his keynote address, delivered on his behalf by Director Tijjani Ahmad, at the 2026 World Wildlife Day commemoration, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawal described the event as an opportunity to engage young environmental advocates and key stakeholders in conservation. He commended UNODC for empowering young Nigerians to take action in wildlife protection through its Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment. He noted that the 2026 theme, ‘Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods’, is especially relevant to Nigeria, where millions depend on these plants for healthcare, cultural heritage, and livelihoods.
Lawal highlighted the critical issue of deforestation, citing data that shows Nigeria loses between 350,000 and 400,000 hectares of forest annually, with over 60 percent of the population directly reliant on forests for livelihoods, energy, and traditional medicine. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment through strengthened policies and coordinated actions, including implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill awaiting presidential assent, and the National Forest Policy for sustainable forest management.
He urged youths to promote conservation in their communities, adopt sustainable practices, and use their platforms to raise awareness of natural resource protection. Lawal called for stronger partnerships among government, private sector, civil society, and international organizations to safeguard biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. He emphasized that the commemoration of World Wildlife Day should serve as a renewed call to action for conserving medicinal and aromatic plants, protecting ecosystems, and securing a sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Onah Bisong, from the Department of Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience, encouraged Nigerian youths to take the lead in biodiversity conservation, particularly in protecting medicinal and aromatic plants. Bisong warned that these resources are increasingly threatened by deforestation, unsustainable harvesting, climate change, and illicit trafficking. He advocated for innovation, advocacy, and community engagement by the youth to promote sustainable practices, support biodiversity conservation, and create green jobs contributing to economic growth.