By ANI
January 24, 2026
The African Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation has called for urgent collective action to address Nigeria’s growing environmental crisis, urging stronger collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and civil society organisations.
The appeal was made to mark the 2025 World Ecology Day, with the foundation warning that environmental degradation across the country has reached a critical stage and requires coordinated national and sub-national responses.
ANI Foundation, an African-led not-for-profit organisation, works with communities and government agencies to conserve Nigeria’s biodiversity while promoting local economic development through hands-on protected area management.
Speaking on the need for joint efforts, the Executive Director of ANI Foundation, Mr. Tunde Morakinyo, said environmental protection must be anchored on collaboration, education and active community participation to deliver lasting impact.
He noted that the foundation’s programmes have demonstrated that local empowerment drives sustainable results, citing reforestation projects, women-focused initiatives, youth-led conservation efforts and community-based empowerment schemes.
Morakinyo disclosed that ANI Foundation has established Savings and Loan Groups in several communities around Gashaka Gumti National Park and Okomu National Park in partnership with the National Park Service, and has supported the vaccination of over 150,000 cattle in communities surrounding Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba and Adamawa states.
He further highlighted bee-keeping projects supporting more than 50 farmers, women’s empowerment initiatives that have produced the annual Women’s Trade Fair in Toungo, as well as the construction of a Women’s Centre in Toungo, with another in Gashaka expected to be completed before the end of the year.
He stressed that with Nigeria facing severe threats such as deforestation and advancing desertification — with NESREA estimating an annual forest loss of nearly 400,000 hectares and FAO warning that over 35 per cent of the nation’s land is at risk — stronger enforcement of environmental laws, investment in reforestation, sustainable pastoralism and climate-smart agriculture remain essential to securing a greener and more resilient future.
