Biodiversity and National Development in Nigeria: Potentials and Challenges

Nigeria boasts a very rich biome which places the Nation amongst the few Nations with an almost complete Natural diversity. However, this diversity has not been protected as supposed in recent years, and this article exposes the many potentials and challenges faced by the Nigerian Biodiversity, in relation to National Development.

It is common knowledge that the Nigerian biome hosts a large proportion of the world's biodiversity and this means that the circumstances of the Nigerian biome becomes that of the global biome as a whole, yet it is very sad to note that little is being consciously done to conserve Nigeria's very large biodiversity. 

According to statistics generated by the 2006 National Diversity Strategy and Action Plan, Nigeria plays host to an approximated population of 22900 registered animal species (including insects, 889 bird species and 1489 species of microorganisms.) and 5000 established species of plants.Notably, Nigeria's huge biodiversity has been of great and manifold benefit to the Nation as it accounts for the Nation's rich food basket, cultural heritage and economic capacities.