WHY CLIMATE CHANGE MATTERS IN NIGERIA

Climate change is an ever-looming threat across the globe, and Nigeria is not immune to its devastating effects. As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria faces numerous challenges resulting from an ever-changing climate.

According to the United Nations, climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. They can also be man-made or as a direct effect of man’s activities on the environment. From erratic rainfall patterns to rising temperatures and increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the effects of climate change on Nigeria’s environment, economy, and people are quite profound. This article explores the causes, effects, and potential solutions to address climate change in Nigeria.

The typical Nigerian climate is tropical, with 2 distinct seasons: rainy and dry seasons. These seasons vary in length, depending on the geographical location. For example, the rainy season lasts longer in the Southern part of Nigeria (usually between March and November) than in the Northern part (usually between May and September).

The dry season occurs more commonly in the North combined with high temperatures that may reach an average of 38 degrees celsius every month, while the typical average temperature in Southern Nigeria ranges between 32 and 33 degrees celsius. Also, the dry and hot harmattan wind lasts longer in the North than in Southern Nigeria.

Causes & Effects of Climate Change on Nigerians and the Nigerian Ecosystem

The devastating effects of climate change have all been proven to result from the depletion of the ozone layer within the atmosphere. The depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere has been shown to be the root cause of all of the devastating effects of climate change on Nigerians and the Nigerian ecosystem. The sun’s intense heat cannot reach Earth through the ozone layer, which is depleted when greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and sulfur dioxide are released into the atmosphere by humans or nature. Global warming, or the gradual rise in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and oceans, is significantly influenced by the release of these gases into the atmosphere. Temperatures rise dramatically over time as a result, depending on the level of depletion and the amount of gases released.

Human activities that cause climate change are: emission of greenhouse gases as fumes from vehicles and industries, burning of hydrocarbon products and fossil fuels, deforestation and so on. These activities have a number of negative effects, most of which directly affect us Nigerians and our environment as a whole.

Rising temperatures have prompted a drastic increase in heatwaves, affecting human health, agriculture, and water resources. Crop yields have suffered as a result of erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts, which have sparked disputes over diminishing resources. In recent years, the country has experienced a significant decrease in rainfall, particularly in the northern and central regions. This has led to a number of problems, including drought, crop failure, and food insecurity.

The effects of climate change are made even worse by ecosystem degradation brought on by urbanization, industrial activities, and deforestation.

More than 70 percent of Nigerians have agriculture as their main occupation and source of livelihood, and nearly all the agricultural crops and produce in Nigeria rely on rain to survive. The unstable, annual variation in rainfall makes it cumbersome for farmers to adequately plan for each cropping season, shortening the length of the cropping season and growing days. Certain crops require very specific amount of rainfall and environmental temperature and as a result of this variation, the yield after each harvest reduces drastically, resulting in food shortage and an eventual increase in food prices. Farmers are left with no choice but to count their losses, eventually resulting in loss of income.

Over the past decade, flooding has posed a significant threat to the environment in Nigeria, particularly in coastal areas like the Niger Delta and Lagos. The worst flooding the nation has seen in over a decade has affected over three million people in 34 states since July 2022. As of October 2022, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that at least 603 people had died, more than 2,400 had been injured, more than 1.4 million people had been displaced, more than 82,000 homes had been damaged, and more than 330,000 hectares of land had been affected by the floods. To this day, the devastating effects of losing their homes continue to affect millions of Nigerians.

Also negatively impacted by climate change is the already erratic electrical power supply in Nigeria, through impacts on hydroelectric and thermal generation. Taking the Kainji Dam hydropower project as an example; because this type of power generation requires a substantial quantity of timing and geographical pattern of precipitation and a certain level of temperature, less rainfall in the North makes trees and biomass for fuel less available, affecting hydroelectric output. The reduced river flow and higher environmental temperature also reduces the capacity of thermal electric generation as higher temperature reduces transmission capacity.

Climate change also has serious implications for the health of Nigerians. Direct effects on health result from extreme weather such as heat waves, droughts, windstorms, and wildfires. The indirect effects of climate change can be as a result of malnutrition due to food shortages; from the spread of infectious disease and food- and water-borne illness; and from increased air pollution. Floods, changes in rainfall pattern, rising temperatures and sea levels all affect the supply and distribution of fresh water, predisposing people to all kinds of infections. Also, drought and high temperatures causes a reduction in the quantity of fresh water, compromising environmental hygiene and increasing the incidence and risk of diarrhea and other water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera and river blindness.

Current Initiatives or Policies

Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, the Nigerian government has taken some steps to address climate change; the launch of the Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management Project (NEWMAP)in 2012, and its completion in 2022.

In 2021, the Climate Change Act was signed into law. It provides a framework for climate actions at the national level, in line with national development priorities and sets a net-zero target for 2050-2070. The Act codifies national climate actions by mandating the Ministry of Environment to set, among others, a carbon budget, keeping average increase in global temperature within 2 degree Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It further approves of formulation of a National Climate Change Action Plan in every five-year cycle to ensure that the national emission profile is consistent with the carbon budget goals and prescribes measures for identifying actions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Potential Solutions

To effectively tackle climate change in Nigeria, a multi-faceted approach is essential.

First, the average Nigerian must be knowledgable and must have access to knowledge about climate change. So, enough public awareness should be made available to all Nigerians in their native languages via the mass media and the internet, on how climate change affects them, how they can contribute to restoring the ecosystem and how they can adapt. Climate change should also be included in the curriculum of all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country, such that young people are taught to be more environmentally conscious and aware of it.

Also, policies and programmes should be aimed at increasing access to information for and raising awareness among public policy makers, the organised private sector, civil society organisations, users of natural resources and those working in agriculture, and managers of infrastructure.

Institutional capacity building is essential for all stakeholders involved in climate change adaptation in Nigeria. This includes Federal and State Government Ministries and agencies, Local Government officials and departments, the private sector, and civil society organisations. The aim is to develop and implement policies, programmes, projects and other measures to address climate change.

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate emissions and should therefore be promoted .

Sustainable agricultural practices, including agroforestry and efficient irrigation methods should also be encouraged.

Reforestation initiatives, including stricter laws on deforestation can help restore the ecosystems.

In conclusion, climate change poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s environment, its economy and people, as evident by the devastating effects of climate change on them – rising temperatures & sea levels, loss of sustainable sources of income, flooding, and the displacement of vulnerable individuals. It’s therefore crucial that extra attention is paid to our environment, and we contribute to a more sustainable future for Nigeria by adopting eco-friendly habits, and supporting environmentally conscious businesses.

In conclusion, climate change poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s environment, its economy and people, as evident by the devastating effects of climate change on them – rising temperatures & sea levels, loss of sustainable sources of income, flooding, and the displacement of vulnerable individuals. It’s therefore crucial that extra attention is paid to our environment, and we contribute to a more sustainable future for Nigeria by adopting eco-friendly habits, and supporting environmentally conscious businesses.

Adebomi Deborah