The dark consequences of choosing to ignore impact of climate change in Nigeria

Climate Change is not a foreign word in the English dictionary and in the ears of our people. Although there is no actual term for it in the major Nigerian languages of Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, we have still heard of the impact of climate change through the common mottled phrases: “my house is flooding,” “the car is stuck in the road’s swimming pool,” “it has been raining for the past three days,” “we have not had a successful crop yield this year,” “I do not know what I am going to eat today.” The list spreads longer than any line of traffic seen in this nation. Its effects are also visible in headlines – “The Crashing Naira” and “The Rising Death rates linked to the Farmer/Herder Conflict,” Yet, we still fail to associate our devastating problems with one of the fundamental causes – our worsening climate.

According to the United Nations, “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.” While some of the noticeable environmental shifts have been natural, human actions like the burning of fossil fuels, excessive use of coal, deforestation, pollution, and unstructured urban development have accelerated the pace at which the earth is warming, fostering devastating effects on our lives.

With the turn of the 21st Century and the technology age, there is a heightened awareness of the devastation destined for humankind. While there is increased global momentum to generate awareness, effect changes, propel action in our communities, and is more present in our daily conversations – Nigeria is relatively silent. Countless coastal communities have gotten fully submerged by water, yet, the government has no reliable report on the lives and infrastructure lost. It does not adequately cater to the needs of those most affected.

The pertinent questions have not been asked, and we have failed to create a foolproof plan that ensures a hopeful and just future for the citizens of our country. How will we all migrate and relocate 200 million people who call Nigeria home? At this rate, even the rich will not make it out.

Lagos, home to 20 million people, is severely affected by climate change. With all our communities built around and near the coastline, the daily pushing of water closer to our land sadly means disaster for us – no matter how much we want to deny it.

Despite the alarming trends of rising temperatures and sea levels, unpredictable weather, and mass, we are still investing a large amount of money in infrastructure, including hotels, resorts, malls, and recreational centers, which are bound to disappear unless urgent action is taken. We all have critical roles to play in averting a looming disaster.

(1) As a government, Nigeria must develop and implement a comprehensive plan for climate action at the Federal, State, and local levels. The government must constructively invest time and money into urban renewal projects, including developing greener environments, urban and rural resilience and sustainability interventions to address flooding, droughts, and erosion.