Nigeria's Geological Heritage at Risk of Neglect

During a lecture in Abuja commemorating Prof. Omar Rahaman's 80th birthday, it was emphasized that Nigeria is at risk of losing billions due to the neglect of its geological heritage. The lecture, organized by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), highlighted that Nigeria's geological assets could significantly boost tourism, education, and economic growth.

Despite its rich landscapes and unique geological formations, Nigeria has a poor representation of geological sites on UNESCO's World Heritage list, indicating a major gap in recognition and protection of the country's natural endowments. Prof. Shuaibu Aliyu, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), warned that unchecked mining and poor land use practices threaten Nigeria's geological heritage.

The lecture underscored the need for a dedicated international framework to protect these sites, as they hold critical records of Earth's history dating back billions of years.