Following a study that found 29% of Nigerians are unsure of how Climate Change would affect their nation, a worldwide safety organisation is calling for increased Education and awareness about the risks associated with it. This number is significantly higher than the 12% global uncertainty rate seen in the most recent Gallup poll, which was done for the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest levels of uncertainty on climate hazards, according to the poll, which had 147,000 respondents from 142 different countries.
Over the past few years, Nigeria’s climate change uncertainty has varied, rising from 18% in 2019 to 30% in 2021 before levelling off at 29% in 2023. Notwithstanding this, the global trend indicates a decrease in uncertainty, pointing to advancements in global climate awareness. Similar to global norms, Nigerians’ perceptions of climate change are also divided, with 32% seeing it as a “very serious” concern, 24% seeing it as “somewhat serious,” and 15% not seeing it as a threat.
Poor infrastructure and a lot of rain made flooding worse.
Experts stress how education can help bridge the knowledge gap. According to Nancy Hey of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, this uncertainty is exacerbated by incomplete information and a dearth of easily available tools. Similarly, Professor Wändi Bruine de Bruin noted that there is a gap in Nigeria between the experience of extreme weather and the understanding of its connections to climate change. This gap is frequently made worse by the language and complexity of climate communication. The goal of cooperative efforts with groups such as the IPCC is to enhance public comprehension and streamline message.
Also, Nigeria has seen the obvious effects of climate change, including extreme droughts, flooding, and desertification. For example, one of the greatest floods in ten years struck Nigeria in 2022, hitting 34 of its 36 states, displacing over 1.3 million people, and killing over 600. Poor Infrastructure and a lot of rain made these floods worse. Like in the Lake Chad region, which has decreased by 90% since the 1960s as a result of misuse and climate change, droughts in northern Nigeria have also increased food Insecurity and exacerbated conflicts over diminishing resources.
Gov’t organisations, NGOs, & private sector must work together.
There are important lessons to be learnt from effective climate education projects around the world. Over 10,000 kids participated in seminars and community events as part of the “Climate Jamboree” campaign in India, which promoted awareness and action against climate dangers. By monitoring changes in their surroundings, Australians can now participate in climate research thanks to the “ClimateWatch” app. These efforts, which highlight community involvement, accessibility, and relevance, provide examples that can motivate comparable programs in Nigeria. In order to effectively address climate change, it is imperative to increase the voices of local experts.
In order to involve rural populations, Nigerian climate scientist Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, for instance, has emphasised the necessity of better integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary climate science. Chukwumerije Okereke and other policy advocates have also advocated for climate-resilient farming methods and more robust implementation of Nigeria’s Climate Action legislation. Including these viewpoints in awareness-raising initiatives can aid in closing the knowledge gap between the general population and scientific findings. An unambiguous call to action is essential. To carry out focused education programs that explain climate science and relate it to local experiences, Nigerian government organisations, non-governmental organisations, and Private Sector participants must work together.
Related Article: Climate Change Worsen Nigeria’s Temperature
While community-based initiatives might employ storytelling to illustrate the connections between extreme weather and global warming, schools could incorporate climate change into their curricula. With international assistance from agencies such as the IPCC and UNFCCC, funding for these initiatives should be given top priority. Nigeria must take immediate action to protect its future, utilising communication and education to increase climate risk resilience. Failing to close this knowledge gap could make it more difficult for the nation to adapt to and lessen the effects of climate change, placing millions of people at risk from its escalating dangers.