A renowned Cameroonian geoscientist, Felix Toteu, has warned that years of neglect and weak regulatory frameworks are exposing Nigeria’s geological assets to serious risk, particularly in the context of expanding mining activities.

He noted that Nigeria sits on vast but underutilised geological resources that could drive mining-led growth, tourism, and education if properly harnessed and protected.

Toteu made this known in Abuja during a lecture delivered as the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society, and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund marked the 80th birthday of Omar Rahaman.

The lecture, titled ‘Geodiversity: The Foundation of Our Heritage,’ highlighted the gap between Nigeria’s mineral wealth and the lack of structured preservation.

According to Toteu, Nigeria’s limited presence on UNESCO’s World Heritage list—especially for geological sites—points to a failure in recognising and safeguarding critical natural assets that underpin mining and other extractive industries.

Despite its abundance of rock formations, mineral deposits, fossils, and unique landforms, the country has only a handful of recognised heritage sites, with just one partly acknowledged for its geological importance.

He said: “This shows how much we are missing as a country. Geodiversity is the foundation upon which biodiversity and human development are built, yet it remains largely ignored.”

Toteu explained that while biodiversity enjoys global legal protections, geodiversity lacks a dedicated international framework, leaving countries like Nigeria dependent on weak or inconsistent national mining and environmental policies.

He added that for any site to be listed as a World Heritage Site, it must demonstrate “outstanding universal value” and be under permanent protection—conditions many Nigerian geological and mining sites currently fail to meet.

The geoscientist warned that unregulated mining, environmental degradation, deforestation, and poor land-use practices are accelerating the loss of Nigeria’s geological heritage.

“We are exploiting resources without preserving the history and processes that created them. If we continue like this, we risk losing both our natural identity and future opportunities.”

He stressed that geodiversity predates and sustains biodiversity, noting that Nigeria’s geological formations preserve vital records of Earth’s history, some dating back billions of years.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Shuaibu Aliyu, said the celebrant played a key role in shaping some of the Fund’s most impactful programmes.

Aliyu, represented by the Deputy General Manager of the Audit Division, Steve Agboyinu, noted that Rahaman was among the architects of the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme, a flagship initiative that has produced highly skilled professionals for Nigeria’s energy and mining sectors.

“Professor Rahaman’s contributions to academia and national development stand as a powerful testament to the transformative role of education. Over the decades, he has shaped minds, influenced institutions, and contributed meaningfully to the development of Nigeria’s energy sector.”