The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Nigeria accepted the convention on 23 October 1974, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2023, Nigeria has two World Heritage Sites. Nigeria has served as a member of the World Heritage Committee four times, 1976–1980, 2001–2005, 2007–2011, and 2019–2023.
World Heritage Sites UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
+ Site Image Location (state) Year listed DescriptionSukur Cultural LandscapeAdamawa1999 iii, v, vi (cultural)Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove Osun2005ii, iii, vi (cultural)
Tentative List In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. , Nigeria has listed thirteen properties on its tentative list.
+ Site Image Location (state) Year listed UNESCO criteria DescriptionBenin Iya / Sungbo' s Eredo Edo1995ii, iii, iv, v (cultural)Kwiambana and/or NingiZamfara1995ii, iii, iv (cultural)Niger Delta MangrovesAbia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers1995NaturalOke Idanre (Idanre Hill)Ondo2007ii, iii, v (cultural)Arochkwu Long Juju Slave Route (Cave Temple Complex)Abia2007iii, vi (cultural)Ancient Kano City Walls and Associated SitesKano2007iii, v, vi (cultural)Surame Cultural LandscapeSokoto2007i, vii (mixed)Alok Ikom Stone MonolithsCross River2007i, iii (cultural)Ogbunike CavesAnambra2007vi, vii (mixed)Cross River-Korup-TakamandaCross River2020ix, x (natural)Lake Chad cultural landscapeBorno, Yobe2018ii, iii, vii, ix (mixed)Gashaka Gumti National ParkAdamawa, Taraba2025vii, ix, x (natural)
See also List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Nigeria
References