Nigeria is the most populous black nation with human population of over 170million and a land mass of 923,768 km2, stretching from the Atlantic ocean in the South to the Sahara desert in the North. The wide range of stratified ecosystems confers on the country, rich biodiversity, including boisterous flora and fauna.
According to National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2007), Nigeria possesses more than 5,000-recorded species of plants, 22,090 species of animals, including insects and 889 species of birds, and 1,489 species of microorganisms. It estimated that 0.4 per cent of the plant species are threatened and 8.5 per cent endangered, with 0.14 per cent of the animals and insects threatened and 0.22 per cent endangered.
The country study listed 135 reptilian species, 109 amphibian species and 648 fish species and recognized the forests in Cross River State of Nigeria to be a hotspot for amphibian biodiversity.
Nigeria is known as a global hotspot for primate species, with a great diversity found especially in the Gulf of Guinea forests of Cross River State. However, protection and preservation of the Nigerian ecosystem has remained a great challenge.
The conservationist’s effort is constrained by fund, lack of enforcement, and public awareness. Legislation for the protection of these endangered species and punishment of wildlife crime is very minimal and public awareness and concern for conservation of wildlife is very low. As a result, wildlife abuses and crimes such as hunting and poaching are often excused as cultural or harmless economic activities.
The following factors and activities pose threat to Nigeria’s biodiversity:
Deforestation, including forest clearance for farming, urban and infrastructural development, over-grazing by nomadic cattle and bush burning;
Over-exploitation of the resources because of their economic and commercial values;
Land degradation particularly through Crude oil spill pollution
Climate change
Genetic erosion;
Habitat loss;
Poaching
Desertification
Trade in endangered species.
Photo © Bernard Dupont
Loxodonta africana
Common Name: African Elephant
Threat: Elephant tusk being used as ornaments
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Finn-DE
Geochelone sulcata
Common Name: Tortoise
Threat: Used in traditional medicine.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Wikimedia Commons
Panthera leo
Common Name: Lion
Threat: Skin used for decorations in homes.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Aleš Řiháček
Chamaeleo spp
Common Name: Chameleon
Threat: Kept in captivity as pet, used in traditional medicine
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Alfonsopazphoto
Photo © Bernard Dupont
Loxodonta africana
Common Name: African Elephant
Threat: Elephant tusk being used as ornaments
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Finn-DE
Geochelone sulcata
Common Name: Tortoise
Threat: Used in traditional medicine.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Wikimedia Commons
Panthera leo
Common Name: Lion
Threat: Skin used for decorations in homes.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Aleš Řiháček
Chamaeleo spp
Common Name: Chameleon
Threat: Kept in captivity as pet, used in traditional medicine
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Alfonsopazphoto
Photo © Bernard Dupont
Loxodonta africana
Common Name: African Elephant
Threat: Elephant tusk being used as ornaments
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Finn-DE
Geochelone sulcata
Common Name: Tortoise
Threat: Used in traditional medicine.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Wikimedia Commons
Panthera leo
Common Name: Lion
Threat: Skin used for decorations in homes.
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Aleš Řiháček
Chamaeleo spp
Common Name: Chameleon
Threat: Kept in captivity as pet, used in traditional medicine
Click to learn more at EOLPhoto © Alfonsopazphoto
Christine Oby Onyia
Christine Oby Onyia is the co-chair of BWP-Nigeria and the convener of the 2008 “International Workshop on DNA Barcoding of Biodiversity in the Central and West African sub-region” that created great awareness on DNA Barcoding as veritable tool for biodiversity conservation and protection. She has Ph.D in Biotechnology, with interests in bio-conservation, bioremediation and molecular systematics.
Maiwada M. Omar
Maiwada M. Omar is the co-chair of the barcode of wildlife project, Nigeria. He works with National Environmental Standards and Regulations, Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Abuja and is the National enforcement officer of the project.
Jideofor Obianuju Patience
Patience is a Scientific Officer at the National Biotechnology Development Agency Abuja, Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Environmental Biology and Master of Science degree in Energy and Environmental Management. Her background in Animal and Environmental Biology has been of immense value to Barcode of wildlife project in Nigeria. She has knowledge on wildlife conservation, participated in workshops and has skills on molecular biology and its application.
Toyin Ogundipe
He is a Professor of Plant Systematics in the University of Lagos, Nigeria and he specializes in identification, molecular plant systematic and DNA Barcoding of plants. He is on the BWP Nigeria team as a member of the LAB SOP work group.
Temitope O. Onuminya
She is a Lecturer in the Department of Botany, University of Lagos, Nigeria and her research focus is on biosystematics, conservation, molecular phylogenetics and DNA barcoding of plants, mostly higher plants. She is on the BWP Nigeria team as one of the informatics leads.
Victor I. Amasiorah
Victor has M. Tech in Microbiology. He has participated in several Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics workshops both nationally and internationally. The experience he gathered from workshops and his biotransformation research work earned him a slot in the Barcode of Wildlife Project (BWP).
Beatrice O. Ojiego
Beatrice is an Analytical Chemist and holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental health management. She has taken series of training both local and international on Molecular Biology, hence her interest in Barcode of wide life project in Nigeria. She is a scientific officer at the National Biotechnology Development Agency Abuja, Nigeria.
Azubuike Victor Chukwuka
Victor is a zoologist with interest in conservation. He is on the BWP- Nigeria team to represent the mandate of his agency, The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) as regards liaising with relevant stakeholders to conserve Nigeria’s biodiversity.
Yohanna Saidu
Yohanna is a staff of National Park Service, Nigeria (NPS). He is presently serving as at the park’s Headquarters as the Head of research and a member of the BWP specimen SOP working group. The BWP is of utmost importance to him and his organization, being a concept in their organization that will help them in the area of litigation, law enforcement and keeping record (Databank) of animal and plant species of our the country.
Anne Obiajunwa
Anne has a B.Sc. Zoology, M.Sc. Environmental toxicology and pollution management.
What brought her to BWP team is in lieu of fulfilling the mandate of the Agency where she works, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), whose responsibility is biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of Nigeria's natural resources among others.
