Environment Minister Calls for African Unity to Safeguard Continent’s Vulnerable Biodiversity

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Environment, has called for a united effort among African nations to protect the continent’s natural areas. He emphasized that Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, species loss, and the destruction of biodiversity compared to other continents.

Salako made this appeal on Thursday in Abuja during the Validation Workshop on the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators for the Early Action Support Project. This workshop focuses on implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which is designed to address these critical environmental issues.

The Minister underscored the importance of utilizing every available tool to mitigate threats to biodiversity. He stressed that the KMGBF provides crucial guidance in this regard. According to Salako, Africa faces unique challenges, including the loss of species and biodiversity, that are more severe than those experienced by other continents.

He pointed out that the continent’s environments and resources have been severely impacted by centuries of exploitation, particularly by countries in the global north. This long history of resource extraction has left Africa’s wildlife, lands, and people increasingly at risk.

Salako also highlighted the role of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as a key policy tool for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). He explained that the NBSAP needs to be updated to align with the new goals and targets set by the KMGBF. This alignment is critical for accelerating progress toward achieving the vision of a world where biodiversity is protected and humans live in harmony with nature by the year 2050.

The Minister emphasized that both Nigeria and other African nations are playing a leading role in the global effort to protect biodiversity. He called for translating the KMGBF into concrete actions and ensuring that national goals and measures reflect the urgent need for environmental protection.

Salako stressed that this workshop represents a significant milestone in the journey toward addressing the ongoing environmental crisis. He urged participants to act with bold ambition to protect species from over-exploitation, to expand and strengthen protected areas, and to set effective targets and indicators for recovering the natural world.

Dr. Salako concluded his remarks by assuring attendees of the Federal Government’s full support for these initiatives. He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also committed to advancing these efforts. The Minister’s statements underline the urgency of collaborative action to safeguard Africa’s biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for the continent.

Dr. Salako’s speech highlighted the pressing need for African unity in addressing environmental challenges. He called for immediate and coordinated actions to protect the continent’s biodiversity and natural resources, stressing that the KMGBF provides a critical framework for these efforts. The Minister’s commitment to updating national policies and mobilizing support reflects a broader recognition of the need for a collective response to the environmental crises facing Africa.