Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, is facing significant Climate Change challenges. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the country has experienced fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, with temperatures increasing by 1.0 °C since the 1960s. Unpredictable rainfall patterns have led to flooding in some areas and extended droughts in others. With a population of over 200 million people, the country is at a turning point in its history as it grapples with the impacts of climate change. For example, heat waves occur more frequently in the northern part of the country, where temperatures rise above 40°C.
Reduced rainfall in this region worsens Desertification and the loss of agricultural land. According to World Bank projections, up to 60% of the country’s agricultural land may be lost to desertification by 2050, putting Food Security in danger. The nation’s Economy is based primarily on agriculture, which employs 70% of the labour force and generates about 24% of the country’s GDP. However, agricultural output is seriously threatened by global warming. Changes in rainfall patterns and temperature rises have caused decreased crop yields and Livestock productivity. Staple crops, including maise, rice, and sorghum, are at risk.
Warming could cut maise production by 20% and rice yields by 15% by 2050.
According to research published in Environmental Research Letters, warming temperatures could result in a 20% reduction in maise production by 2050 and a 15% drop in rice yields. Livestock is also in danger. Animal health is harmed, and pasture quality is degraded by rising temperatures and decreased water availability. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) projects that the stress of warming temperatures may cause the nation’s livestock Productivity to drop by 30% over the next few decades. The nation’s coastline is decreasing alarmingly, and some regions are losing twenty to thirty meters yearly. Erosion threatens the lives of people who depend on fishing for a living and increases the financial difficulties these people already endure.
The country’s water resources have been severely limited due to global warming. The nation, which depends on rainfall for its water supply, faces water limitations due to changing precipitation patterns. Because of decreased rainfall and increasing evaporation, the Niger River Basin, which is essential for agricultural and hydroelectric generation, is experiencing a reduction in flow. According to the World Resources Institute, the country is one of the top 50 nations experiencing severe water stress. More than 40% of Nigerians may experience severe water stress by 2040, increasing tensions over water supplies, particularly in the country’s arid north.
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall boost vector-borne diseases.
Significant health hazards are also posed by climate change. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns create climates favourable to vector-borne illnesses like Malaria and dengue fever. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports a rise in malaria incidence in the country, which they attribute partly to climatic fluctuations. Furthermore, illnesses brought on by the heat are more prevalent, especially in cities where the urban heat island effect increases high temperatures. According to research from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, heatwaves may cause mortality rates in major cities like Lagos and Kano to rise by as much as 10%.
Environmental degradation significantly affects food security, livelihoods, and economic stability. Rural populations, which rely mostly on agriculture and natural resources, are particularly at risk. Due to global change-related environmental degradation, many people have been driven to migrate from rural areas to cities for better prospects. This rural-urban migration accelerates the urbanisation of places like Lagos and Abuja, raising Poverty levels and causing overloading and inadequate infrastructure. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 70% of people living in rural regions fall below the poverty line, making these areas the most disadvantaged. Rising living expenses and declining agricultural production increase poverty, and climate change worsens it.
Related Article: States should develop their climate policies
Adaptation and mitigation measures are required to address the effects of warming weather in the country. Although there are numerous challenges to overcome, the federal government has made progress against global warming with its policies and programs. Nigeria’s National Climate Change Policy aims to promote Renewable Energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and lower Greenhouse gas emissions. According to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, the nation wants to cut its Emissions by 20% by 2030. The country offers great potential for renewable energy, especially wind and solar. By 2030, the government wants to see 30% of the country’s energy come from renewable sources. Initiatives such as the Nigeria Electrification Project seek to improve rural communities access to clean energy by offering off-grid solar options.