Nigeria, a country wealthy in natural riches, is increasingly confronted by the harsh reality of climate change.
Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are no longer distant concerns; they have a direct impact on livelihoods, disrupt economies, and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
The 2022 floods, for example, were catastrophic, affecting millions of people and resulting in widespread relocation.
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) reports that the 2022 floods affected over 1.4 million people, displaced thousands, and inflicted an estimated USD 6.68 billion in economic damage. Long-term droughts in the northern regions are causing crop failures, food insecurity, and poverty.
Climate variability and climate change, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), have serious consequences, ranging from the immediate impact of extreme weather events to the long-term effects of droughts and desertification on food production, malnutrition, water scarcity, and the spread of infectious diseases.
The poorest and most vulnerable people are likely to be hit the hardest. Nigeria’s geography is environmentally diverse, with rainforests in the south and drylands in the north. As a result, the issues associated with climate change vary across the country. High levels of aridity, drought, and desertification in the north are making it more vulnerable to climate change than in the south.
Rising temperatures and reduced rainfall have exacerbated desert encroachment, resulting in the disappearance of wetlands. Rapid declines in surface water levels are exacerbating the situation in the Northeast and Northwest.
The Southwest and Southeast are less vulnerable than other regions of the country. Thus, southern Nigeria, particularly the South-South (Niger Delta region), is the most vulnerable to increasing sea levels, increased precipitation, coastal erosion, and flooding, all of which have resulted in the displacement of numerous people.
Unsustainable natural resource management and utilisation have increased the population’s vulnerability to natural disasters, climate variability, and extreme weather. Nigeria has one of the world’s highest rates of forest depletion. According to a 2010 FAO report, the country lost an average of 407,700 ha of forest every year between 1990 and 2000, resulting in a 3.5 per cent annual deforestation rate.
Agriculture in Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change and fluctuation due to its reliance on seasonal rainfall.
Agriculture accounts for about 21.2 per cent of GDP in Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country and second-largest economy. Agriculture provides a living for almost 70% of the economically active population and their dependents. Country-specific evidence from previous decades reveals that climate change has already had an influence on diverse sections of Nigeria.
These include exacerbated droughts, severe floods, and increased occurrence and intensity of storm surges, all of which are accompanied by flooding, coastal erosion, salinisation of freshwater aquifers, and fluctuation in fishery resource availability. Future climate projections indicate that global warming may exacerbate these issues. In recent years, Nigeria has been regularly plagued by flooding.
Nigeria is positioned downstream of several flood-prone countries and is influenced by rainfall patterns and responses from its neighbours. Rising sea levels endanger coastal communities, wreaking havoc on lives and infrastructure through erosion and flooding.
Addressing this complicated situation necessitates a multifaceted solution. The transition to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is critical to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture, can boost food security while also reducing environmental damage.
Furthermore, it is critical to expand early warning systems, improve disaster response skills, and empower local people to adapt to changing climate conditions. Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure such as flood barriers and drought-tolerant crops is also crucial.
The Nigerian government, in conjunction with civil society, the commercial sector, and foreign partners, must prioritise climate change action. Nigeria can limit the effects of climate change and create a more secure and prosperous future for all of its population by adopting sustainable development practices and developing strong adaptation plans.
