Deborah Ocheni 
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Adekunle Salako has said Nigeria and the rest of the African nations are leading the way to protect the planet’s biodiversity.
Salako who made this known at the validation Workshop on the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicator for Early Action Support Project to Implement the Kunming-Monstreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in Abuja stressed that this is because Africa will be the most affected by the biodiversity and climate crisis.
“We are united in being the most ambitious in protecting our lands, our seas, our wildlife, and our people.
” Our gathering here today is therefore a crucial milestone in this journey and a firm demonstration of our resolve to confront the catastrophe rushing straight at us, ensuring that we act together with the boldest ambition to protect species threatened by over-exploitation, expand and strengthen our protected areas, set smart targets and indicators as effective measures in the recovery of our natural world.
He assures of the full support of the Federal government and of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this journey while urging stakeholders to use all of the tools at their disposal to reduce the threats to biodiversity, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is guiding our way.
“The African continent is more vulnerable to climate change, species loss, and biodiversity destruction than any other. African environments and resources, including that of our country, have been hit hard by decades and centuries of exploitation mostly perpetrated by other countries, especially in the global north. And now our environments, our wildlife, our lands, and our peoples are most at risk.
“National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the policy instrument for national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). To accelerate action towards achieving the vision for biodiversity and living in harmony with nature by 2050, NBSAP must be rapidly aligned and validated with the new goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
He emphasizes that the KMGBF must be translated into bold action. National goals, targets and measures must match the urgency of the crisis.
“Let us unite to ensure that our call for ambition for the expansion of protected areas is matched with equal ambition on finance, on halting human-induced extinction of wild species, on mutual accountability to halt forest loss and degradation, on securing species recovery and the restoration of jeopardized ecosystems.
“Having seen the strength of Nigeria’s ambition and technical expertise, I am confident that we can lead the way once again to implement these ambitious National Biodiversity Targets. The Federal Government of Nigeria would continue to support the effective implementation of such instruments like the NBSAP which is crucial to building sustainability and conservation in our country.
“We will keep the momentum in the ECOWAS coordination process, particularly in the alignment of NBSAP National targets to global targets and subsequent updating of NBSAP as well as in the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty.
“I am counting on all of you to rise to the occasion in the spirit of collective action so that our country can continue to deliver on its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other related multi-lateral agreements”.
The minister approved the validated National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators for the Nigeria National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which is a policy instrument to mainstream its elements with broader strategies and plans, such as national sustainable development plans, national development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other relevant national sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, in line with national priorities.
