By Our Correspondent
Lagos, March 3, ’25 (TNZ) Wild Africa, a Wildlife Conservation Organisation, says Nigeria’s iconic species needed a robust investment in conservation to protect them.
Festus Iyorah, Nigeria’s Representative, Wild Africa, announced this in a statement emailed to TheNewsZenith on Monday in Lagos.
This is contained in a statement signed by Festus Iyorah, Nigeria’s Representative, Wild Africa,
Iyorah issued the statement to commemorate the World Wildlife Day 2025 on Monday in Lagos.
He advised the Federal Government, the private sector and conservation organisations to increase support for wildlife conservation initiatives to preserve Nigeria’s iconic species.
TheNewsZenith reports that the theme of the 2025 Day is “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”.
It emphasises the essential role of innovative funding in protecting biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for both nature and humanity.
While alluding to the 2024 Living Planet Report, Iyorah said that Africa’s wildlife populations have declined by 76 per cent over the past 50 years.
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“In Nigeria, the situation is dire, with several species, such as lions, elephants, chimpanzees and gorillas. They are on the brink of extinction.
“For example, the country’s elephant population has declined by 99 per cent, with only about 300 to 400 elephants surviving in the wild,” TheNewsZenith quotes Iyorah as saying.
He noted that without immediate investment in conservation, species loss will accelerate. This will lead to devastating consequences, not only for nature but also for economies that rely on natural resources.
“The stakes are high. In Africa, 80 per cent of tourists visit the continent for its wildlife, fueling the ecotourism industry that brings in $12.4 billion a year. It also sustains local economies and communities.
“In countries like Kenya, wildlife tourism accounts for 10.4 per cent of Kenya’s GDP It also employs millions of people and generating $2.7 billion for the country in 2023.
“In Nigeria, travel and tourism’s contribution to the GDP is forecasted to grow at an average rate of 5.4 per cent between 2022 and2032. This highlights the significance of potential to drive economic growth,” Iyorah said.
He said the sector is expected to create 2.6 million new jobs over the next decade and bring in nearly ₦12.3 trillion ($8.2 billion) by 2032. (TNZ)
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