Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly suffer the most from the intense heat, often finding little relief.
Nigeria is under relentless heatwaves, with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) issuing urgent warnings about ongoing extreme temperatures. As of February 13, 2024, NiMET reported that temperatures across the nation have reached record highs, with peaks of 41°C in the North and 39°C in the South. Notably, on April 1st, 2024, Sokoto, a city in northwestern Nigeria, recorded an astonishing temperature of 44.8°C. These scorching conditions are not just a temporary inconvenience; they are poised to linger in the days ahead, presenting profound challenges across critical sectors.
Health Impacts
Heatwaves in Nigeria have profound health impacts, significantly affecting both physical and mental well-being. Typical heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, present significant health dangers and can result in lasting organ damage or even death. Dehydration, particularly dangerous for children and the elderly, can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Mental health impacts, including stress, anxiety, and sleep disruption, add to the overall burden. The strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system is immense, with increased hospital admissions and a need for specific medical resources. Severe incidents include a 2002 heatwave in Maiduguri that resulted in at least 60 deaths and an April 2019 heatwave with temperatures over 42°C. Prolonged heat waves from 2010 to 2014 in Yobe State, reaching dangerous heat index levels, caused widespread illness.
The plight of vulnerable groups such as infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly is particularly distressing. They suffer the most from the intense heat, often finding little relief. The lack of reliable electricity worsens their hardship, leaving many to endure the sweltering temperatures without the comfort of air conditioning or fans. Heatwaves have also increased the risk of meningitis outbreaks in northern Nigeria, and prolonged exposure to extreme heat causes fatigue, confusion, and heat stroke. These are not just statistics; they are a call to action, a plea for comprehensive measures to protect Nigeria’s people from the escalating impact of heatwaves. The urgency is apparent, and intervention is needed. This crisis requires empathy, action, and determination to protect the most vulnerable.
Agricultural Impacts
Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces an unprecedented crisis due to severe climate change impacts, including relentless heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall patterns. These harsh conditions are threatening the livelihoods of millions of farmers and jeopardizing the nation’s food security and economy. In the northern and central regions of Nigeria, where agriculture is a primary source of income and sustenance, the effects of these climate extremes are particularly devastating. Farmers in these areas report staggering losses, with staple crops like okra failing due to the extreme heat and lack of water.
According to a May 2024 report by Mongabay, farmers like Rosemary Obi from Bayelsa recount the heartbreaking reality of watching their crops wither away despite their best efforts to save them. Rosemary, who once relied on her bountiful okra harvests, now faces empty fields and dwindling resources. She explains how the rains come unpredictably and intensely, often causing floods that wash away the few crops that manage to grow. This cycle of drought, followed by sudden downpours, makes farming almost impossible, trapping farmers in a relentless struggle against nature.
The financial strain on farmers is immense. With their crops destroyed, they have no produce to sell, leading to a loss of income and an inability to purchase essentials. This financial blow is compounded by the costs associated with combatting these conditions—buying irrigation equipment, replanting seeds, and fertilizers to revive the soil. Small-scale farmers constitute a large part of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and are especially at risk. Many lack the financial resilience to absorb these shocks, increasing poverty and food insecurity in rural areas.
The impact extends beyond just the farmers. As agricultural output declines, food prices soar, affecting the entire population, particularly people experiencing poverty, who spend a large portion of their income on food. The scarcity of locally grown produce also forces Nigeria to increase its reliance on food imports, straining the economy and making it vulnerable to global market fluctuations.
Environmental Impacts
Nigeria is suffering deeply from the harsh realities of climate change, with extreme weather and relentless heat waves causing profound environmental damage. These impacts are not just altering landscapes; they are tearing apart the fabric of communities and threatening the delicate balance of ecosystems that many livelihoods depend on.
Rising sea levels and increasingly violent storms are relentlessly eroding the coastlines of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. In 2021, the Okun-Alfa community saw over 100 homes swallowed by the sea, forcing terrified families to abandon their homes. The relentless erosion now threatens significant projects like the Eko Atlantic City development, symbolizing a battle between human ambition and nature’s fury. The encroaching waters displace entire communities and imperil crucial urban infrastructure and economic investments.
Extended droughts and sweltering heatwaves have made wildfires a devastatingly common occurrence in Nigeria’s forests. In 2020, a massive wildfire ravaged the Cross River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the last refuge for the endangered Cross River gorilla. The fire obliterated vast areas of vital habitat, endangering the survival of these precious creatures. This catastrophe highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s biodiversity in the face of climate change, with irreplaceable ecosystems going up in flames.
In Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city, heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage systems have led to catastrophic flooding. In 2022, flash floods caused by torrential downpours claimed at least 50 lives and displaced thousands. Communities in low-lying areas like Gwagwarwa and Gwammaja are repeatedly hit by these floods, facing annual cycles of devastation. These floods cause immediate destruction and leave long-term scars, disrupting lives and livelihoods and fostering a climate of perpetual uncertainty and fear.
Northern Nigeria, particularly Yobe state, is relentlessly transformed by climate change into an arid wasteland. Over 60% of the land has succumbed to desertification, turning once fertile fields into barren deserts. Farmers who rely on these lands watch helplessly as their crops wither and livestock perish due to the unforgiving droughts. This environmental degradation leads to severe food insecurity and economic despair as biodiversity loss further strips the land of its resilience. The plight of these farmers battling against an encroaching desert underscores the urgent need for support and adaptation strategies.
Policies, Programs, and Challenges in Addressing Extreme Weather Conditions
Nigeria has been grappling with escalating climate change impacts, including extreme weather conditions. In response, the government has implemented various policies and programs to prevent and treat conditions brought on by summer heat. Key initiatives include the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, which seeks to integrate climate adaptation into national policies and development planning. Launched in 2019 with support from the Green Climate Fund, the NAP process focuses on conducting vulnerability assessments, establishing coordination mechanisms, and developing monitoring and evaluation systems for adaptation efforts.
Nigeria adopted the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy (NPCC-RS) in 2013 to further bolster climate resilience. This policy promotes sustainable development through climate change preparedness, adaptation, and mitigation across all societal segments. Specific goals include enhancing energy resilience, promoting afforestation, and implementing comprehensive climate change adaptation measures. Nevertheless, Nigeria continues to face substantial climate vulnerability despite these efforts. The country ranks 158th out of 182 countries on climate vulnerability, scoring 37.5 out of 100, indicating a high susceptibility to climate impacts.
Compounding the challenges, Nigeria’s poor readiness for climate disruptions is reflected in its position in the upper-left quadrant of the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN) Matrix. This ranking signifies high vulnerability and low readiness, necessitating urgent action, investments, and innovations to enhance climate resilience. The country is ranked as the 179th best-prepared nation and the 53rd most vulnerable globally. To address immediate threats posed by heatwaves, the Nigerian government recently issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun, plan outdoor activities accordingly, and keep an emergency kit with essential items such as oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets, a thermometer, towels for cooling, and a handheld fan with batteries.
The advisory also offers practical advice for dealing with heatwaves: drawing curtains during the hottest times of the day, opening windows at night to cool the house, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, using sunscreen, staying hydrated, and wearing light, loose-fitting clothing. These recommendations are crucial given the poor electricity supply across the country, which exacerbates the situation for many Nigerians by limiting access to air conditioning and other cooling methods.
Despite these proactive measures, financial constraints pose a significant barrier to the effective implementation of robust adaptation strategies. Limited budget allocations for climate change adaptation and the need for substantial investment hamper the scale-up of essential projects. Additionally, inadequate coordination among stakeholders and insufficient capacity-building efforts further impede progress. To enhance the effectiveness of Nigeria’s climate adaptation efforts, it is imperative to address financial limitations, improve coordination mechanisms, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Collaborative efforts with international partners and stakeholders are also crucial for mobilizing the resources and expertise needed to protect Nigeria’s environment and communities from the adverse impacts of climate change.