Global warming is reshaping Nigeria's climate and threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions. Average temperatures across the country have increased by over 1.2°C in recent decades, triggering a cascade of environmental challenges, including intense heatwaves, devastating floods, and accelerating desertification. Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Nigeria faces disproportionate climate impacts and has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
Key Impacts of Global Warming in Nigeria
Rising Temperatures and Heatwaves
Nigeria's average temperatures have climbed by 1.2°C, with particularly severe effects in urban centers and northern regions. Cities like Lagos and states across the north now regularly experience extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 40°C. These punishing heatwaves are causing widespread dehydration, heat strokes, and increased mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations,s including the elderly, children, and outdoor workers.
Catastrophic Flooding
Climate change has intensified Nigeria's flooding crisis. The unprecedented floods of 2022 displaced over 2.5 million people and devastated agricultural lands across multiple states. Coastal and riverine communities in states like Bayelsa and Anambra were particularly hard hit, with families losing homes, crops, and access to clean water. The recurring nature of these floods disrupts economic activity and deepens poverty in affected regions.
Desertification and Drought
Northern Nigeria is experiencing rapid desertification as the Sahara Desert expands southward, consuming arable land at an alarming rate. This environmental degradation reduces agricultural productivity and intensifies competition for increasingly scarce land and water resources. The resulting tensions have fueled violent conflicts between farming communities and herders, creating a humanitarian crisis that intertwines climate change with security challenges.
Agricultural Disruption and Food Security
Agriculture employs approximately 70% of Nigeria's population, making the sector's climate vulnerability a national crisis. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and unpredictable growing seasons are undermining crop yields and livestock production. These disruptions threaten food security for Nigeria's rapidly growing population and jeopardize the incomes of millions of smallholder farmers who depend on predictable weather patterns.
Coastal Erosion and Sea Level Rise
Rising sea levels are eroding Nigeria's coastline and threatening critical infrastructure in major cities. Lagos, Africa's largest city, and Port Harcourt face increasing risks from coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion. The erosion endangers homes, businesses, and essential services while potentially displacing coastal communities and disrupting economic activities in these vital commercial hubs.
Causes and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Nigeria's greenhouse gas emissions stem from several key sources. The country's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly its oil and gas sector, generates significant emissions through gas flaring—the practice of burning off excess natural gas during oil extraction. Rapid deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, logging, and urbanization reduces the country's carbon absorption capacity while releasing stored carbon. Additionally, inadequate waste management systems contribute to emissions through methane release from decomposing organic waste.
Mitigation and Adaptation Measures
Nigeria has taken important steps to address climate change through policy and practical interventions. The Climate Change Act of 2021 established a legal framework targeting net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070. The government is investing in renewable energy infrastructure, including the Kano Solar Park and Kaduna Wind Farm, to diversify the energy mix and reduce fossil fuel dependence.
In the agricultural sector, authorities are promoting climate-smart farming techniques designed to increase resilience and maintain food security under changing conditions. Afforestation programs, particularly in northern regions facing desertification, aim to restore degraded lands and create barriers against desert encroachment through large-scale tree planting initiatives.
Future Projections
Climate models project that without significant global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, Nigeria's temperatures could rise by 2.9°C to 5.7°C by the end of the century. Such warming would amplify existing challenges and create new threats to human health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. The urgency of Nigeria's climate situation demands both international support for adaptation and continued domestic efforts to build resilience in vulnerable communities.
