Nigeria Confronts Growing Climate Risks with Rising Droughts, Heatwaves, and Flooding

• Nigeria is experiencing worsening climate extremes, including intense heatwaves, northern droughts, and devastating southern flooding.
• In 2025, Nigeria ranked 60th on the World Risk Index, indicating rising vulnerability to environmental hazards.
• Climate-induced disasters have become significant drivers of internal migration and economic instability, threatening the agricultural sector that accounts for over 31% of the national GDP.

Climate Factors and Geography

• Rainfall distribution is uneven: the southeast faces heavy downpours due to Atlantic air masses and the Cameroon Highlands, while the north is increasingly arid due to dry winds from the Sahara Desert.
• Nigeria’s average temperature from 1991 to 2020 was 27.3 degrees Celsius, contributing to a global ranking of 41st in average yearly temperature.

Socio-Economic Impact

• Disaster-related migration is significant in specific states: Kogi (90% of internal migration in the state), Katsina (15%), Nasarawa (14%), and Kano (12%).
• Agriculture, which employs many women, faces severe disruptions; for example, 2024 flooding in Kano State destroyed over 25% of expected agricultural output.
• Human and economic costs from June to September 2024 included 280 deaths, 122,330 homes destroyed, 17,000 acres of farmland damaged, and approximately 641,500 people displaced.

Mitigation and Path Forward

• The crisis is exacerbated by human activities including gas flaring, oil spills, and carbon emissions from transport and agriculture.
• Community-based initiatives like "Green Quest," founded by Grace James, are using education and gamification to build local flood resilience.
• While the government is pursuing policy and infrastructure initiatives, experts emphasize that systemic changes and personal engagement are essential to mitigate the long-term effects of climate change.