By Abdullahi Lukman
Wild Africa, a leading conservation organisation, has urged the Federal Government, private sector, and other conservation groups to intensify efforts to protect Nigeria’s threatened bat species.
In a statement issued in commemoration of the 2025 International Bat Appreciation Day, Festus Iyorah, Nigeria’s Representative for Wild Africa, highlighted that Nigeria is home to approximately 100 bat species, accounting for one-third of Africa’s bat population.
However, many of these species are facing the threat of extinction. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has identified several Nigerian bat species, including the critically endangered short-tailed roundleaf bat, as being at high risk of extinction.
The statement noted that Nigerian bats are under significant threat from deforestation, mining, logging, agricultural expansion, light pollution, and the bushmeat trade.
It also highlighted the ecological and public health risks associated with the consumption of fruit bats, particularly the straw-coloured fruit bat, which is the most hunted bat in Africa. Bats, as carriers of zoonotic diseases, pose potential health risks to humans when consumed.
Dr. Mark Ofua, Wild Africa’s West Africa Spokesperson, called bats “the silent guardians of the night” and stressed the importance of coexisting with these creatures to maintain ecological balance.
He expressed hope for the passage of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, currently before the House of Assembly, which would strengthen legal protections for wildlife, including bats.
The statement also pointed to studies indicating that bats and birds help save farmers up to $478 per hectare per year on cocoa farms in Cameroon by controlling pest populations.
Wild Africa is using multiple platforms, including radio, TV, billboards, and Public Service Announcements, to raise awareness of Nigeria’s conservation needs. The campaign has enlisted Nigerian ambassadors such as 2Baba, Nela Duke Ekpenyong, and Josh2Funny to promote the cause.
On International Bat Appreciation Day, Wild Africa called on Nigerians, particularly policymakers, to support the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill and work towards securing a sustainable future for the country’s bat population and its broader biodiversity.
