Executive Summary

The revised Nigeria National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025-2030 is articulated with a whole-of-society approach, embracing a diverse array of sectors and stakeholders. The NBSAP is ambitious and fully aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), with a focus on halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. 

Nigeria’s revised NBSAP has been adopted as whole-of-government policy. The 23 national targets are each in alignment with the corresponding global biodiversity targets and goals. Each Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is urged to “contribute to attaining the goals and targets of the framework in accordance with national circumstances, priorities and capabilities”. Nigeria’s national targets have been revised accordingly, in harmony with the present realities in the country.  The NBSAP will be implemented with a view to conserving Nigeria’s rich natural land, seascapes and biodiversity, and to ensure a sustainable future for our citizens. 

Nigeria’s complex topography has resulted in high levels of biodiversity characterized by an unusually large number of endemic species.  Nigeria is home to diverse ecosystems, ranging from the river systems of the Niger Delta to the rainforests of the Cross River basin, the Savannah and the Adamawa mountains that border Cameroon. These areas harbour diverse species of fauna and flora. However, many ecosystems have been severely degraded, hence, the need for urgent efforts for their protection, restoration and sustainable use. Similarly, some species such as the African forest elephant, lion, Cross River gorilla and Rüppell’s vulture are endangered and there are ongoing efforts to restore and protect them. 

The development of this NBSAP has included reviews and assessments of the previous NBSAP and the current state of biodiversity in the country, as well as comprehensive stakeholder engagement and consultations.  In addition, there have been reviews of legal, administrative and policy measures and their enforcement, and capacity building and development plans. Access to and transfer of technology has also been addressed, as well as a resource mobilization and financing plan for increased domestic funding for NBSAP implementation. A monitoring and evaluation plan, benefit-sharing regulations and measures, mainstreaming of biodiversity across economic sectors and synergy with relevant MEAs are also integral parts of this NBSAP. 

Local cultures and traditions have ties to nature, which encourage local and indigenous peoples to passionately manage the preservation and customary sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems in some areas. The NBSAP acknowledges the existence and legality of these areas and their management and strengthens them.

Records show that Nigeria is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, IUCN Red List identified that there are Critically Endangered species. The causes of the decline are many, but apart from the globally known drivers of biodiversity loss, Nigeria has poverty as a single cross-cutting factor; the intensity of which is on the increase. It is therefore suggested that to save our rich biodiversity, national actions to halt or reduce biodiversity loss must be seen as urgent, inclusive, linked to poverty reduction, and must integrate appropriate education and awareness.

Reviews and assessments of the NBSAP 2016-2020 and gaps in its monitoring system, focused on the need to ensure that the revised NBSAP builds on the previous one. It discusses comprehensive stakeholder engagement and consultations to ensure inclusive participation- a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, including a stakeholder mapping process. It also discusses ongoing stakeholder consultations and engagements for key economic sectors, such as Forestry and Agriculture to ensure that targets, actions and outcomes are coordinated and their ownership, buy-in, and commitment are obtained. 

Identifying emerging challenges, opportunities, and global commitments related to biodiversity, it is noted that the drivers of biodiversity loss include: habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, climate change, population growth and over-consumption and illegal wildlife trade. On a global scale, the destruction of habitats and the exploitation of species and ecosystems are primary factors causing the decline in biodiversity.Similarly, in addition to poverty, habitat loss and fragmentation are the biggest threats in Nigeria. Measures to address these challenges, opportunities, and global commitments related to biodiversity conservation and management are integrated into the revised NBSAP.

The document also focuses on the review of the existing national policies and institutional arrangements and global frameworks related to biodiversity to ensure coherence and alignment. It demonstrates alignment between the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets and the relevant policies and statutes that govern biodiversity conservation in Nigeria. These policies range from national legislation such as the Endangered Species Act and National Park Service Act, to regional policies such as the West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime.

The vision, principles, goals and targets of the revised NBSAP are well highlighted in the document. The vision statement is: “A Nigeria where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably utilized to achieve clean and healthy environment for the wellbeing of all people and future generation”. It envisages a Nigeria where, in the effective implementation of the revised NBSAP, there is a healthy living environment, biodiversity resources are sustainably conserved and utilized, the ecosystems are balanced, and the Nigerian people are living healthily. The development and implementation of the Nigerian NBSAP is driven by eleven key principles and considerations. The goals of the revised NBSAP are global and they are four: numbered A, B, C, and D. The first three global goals address each objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity, while goal D addresses financing and means of implementation.

There are 23 global targets which are organized around three themes: a) addressing threats to biodiversity; b) sustainable use and benefit sharing; and c) tools and solutions for mainstreaming and implementation. Similarly, there are 23 national targets- each in alignment with the corresponding global biodiversity targets and goals. The Nigerian national targets are revised to also be in harmony with the present realities in the country. The targets will be implemented using a whole-of-society approach to conserve Nigeria’s rich natural land, seascapes, and biodiversity to ensure sustainable future for all citizens.

The document highlights actions for achieving each national target, actors or lead implementing institutions that show ownership of each action of a target, timeframe, and sources of funding or support. National actions to achieve the priority targets and strategies will be implemented within a period of 6 years (2025-2030) and will involve working with a wide range of relevant MDAs, NGOs, and Development Partners.

Mainstreaming of biodiversity into various sectors and development plans, such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism is equally addressed. Nigeria has integrated biodiversity considerations into plans and policies of these sectors to ensure sustainable practices and minimize negative impacts on biodiversity, in line with the GBF’s comprehensive approach to biodiversity conservation. 

Capacity building plans which aim to identify gaps and develop strategies for building the necessary human and institutional capacities for effective implementation of the revised NBSAP are identified. The main elements of these plans are the three levels at which capacity is nurtured: the enabling environment; the institutional; and the individual. In the plans, each of the 23 national targets that have been revised in alignment with the GBF goals and targets is selected. Using the template for Capacity Development Assessment, the existing capacities, gaps and needs for effective implementation of each of them were captured.  

The implementation of the revised NBSAP will require huge financial resources, which will be mobilized from various sources including domestic and international sources. To this end, a resource mobilization and financing plan will be put in place. Financing by international sources is expected to, largely, come from donor countries and organizations. At present, there is no information on biodiversity national expenditure in the country. Indicative budget needed to successfully implement the revised NBSAP 2025-2030 targets including building capacities is approximately US$ 474 million. There is need for a detailed national Biodiversity Financing Plan (BioFIN) for implementing the revised NBSAP in collaboration with the UNDP. 

Institutional monitoring and reporting shows the implementing mechanism of the revised NBSAP. The mechanism encompasses the monitoring, evaluation and reporting structures, which are consistent with the revised NBSAP institutional coordinating structure. The institutional actors are the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Biodiversity (IMCB), National Biodiversity Coordinating Committee (NBCC) and National Biodiversity Technical Committee (NBTC). Each of these has composition and responsibilities assigned to it. Monitoring of the revised NBSAP is carried out using an existing monitoring target and action matrix. The targets will be monitored using their corresponding headline, binary, component, complementary, and impact indicators, while the performance indicators are applicable to the actions. The evaluation plan was also captured. 

NBSAP FINAL 2ND JULY 2025.docx