Climate Experts Demand Urgent Action on Nigeria's Escalating Heat Waves
Climate experts have attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves in Nigeria primarily to climate change, issuing stark warnings that this trend is already transforming environmental and socio-economic landscapes across the nation. Data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency reveals a consistent rise in average temperatures over recent decades, coupled with more frequent episodes of extreme heat. In northern cities like Sokoto and Kano, temperatures now regularly surpass 40 degrees Celsius during the dry season. Meanwhile, in southern regions such as Lagos, rising humidity compounds the heat effect, creating conditions that many residents describe as more oppressive than in previous years.
Global Warming and Urbanisation Intensify Heat Impacts
At the core of this alarming trend is global warming, fueled by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. These emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, gradually elevating global temperatures and disrupting climate systems. For Nigeria, this has manifested in longer dry seasons, more erratic rainfall patterns, and a heightened likelihood of prolonged heat waves. Climate scientists emphasize that even slight increases in average temperature can dramatically escalate the frequency and severity of extreme heat events, particularly in tropical regions.
Urbanisation is exacerbating the problem, especially in rapidly expanding cities like Abuja and Lagos, where natural land cover is being replaced by concrete, asphalt, and dense infrastructure. These materials absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, creating what experts term an urban heat island effect. Consequently, cities not only become hotter during daylight hours but also retain warmth well into the night, reducing opportunities for relief and amplifying discomfort for residents.
Widespread Implications Across Sectors
The repercussions are already being felt across multiple sectors. In public health, rising temperatures are contributing to a surge in heat-related illnesses, including dehydration and heat exhaustion. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, face elevated risks. For millions of Nigerians in the informal sector, where labor is conducted under the open sun, extreme heat is diminishing productivity and income.
Environmental lawyer Huzi Mshelia explained that while natural climate variability influences short-term fluctuations, long-term temperature records and regional observations indicate a sustained warming trend aligned with global climate projections driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions. "This has resulted in more frequent, prolonged, and intense heat extremes, particularly over the past two decades," he stated.
According to Mshelia, the impacts of rising temperatures vary regionally:
- Northern Nigeria: The Sahel and Sudan savannah zones endure the most severe heat conditions, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, alongside longer heat waves and warmer nights, worsened by desertification and land degradation.
- North-Central Region: Rising temperatures combine with erratic rainfall to intensify heat stress on agriculture, water resources, and rural livelihoods, with longer dry spells and delayed rains.
- Southern Nigeria: Although temperatures may be relatively lower, high humidity significantly increases the heat index, making conditions more hazardous. Major cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt are increasingly affected by urban heat island effects, where dense infrastructure and limited green spaces trap heat, especially at night.
Mshelia warned that prolonged heat waves are having far-reaching effects on public health, livelihoods, and agricultural productivity. "Heat stress, dehydration, and heatstroke cases are rising, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers," he said. "High temperatures, especially when combined with humidity, also worsen respiratory conditions and increase the risk of infectious diseases."
On livelihoods, Mshelia noted that extreme heat reduces labor productivity in sectors like agriculture, construction, and the informal economy, while driving up energy demand for cooling, thereby increasing household costs and straining the power sector. He added that agriculture is particularly vulnerable, with prolonged heat leading to crop stress, reduced yields, and heightened risk of crop failure for staples such as maize and rice. Livestock production is also impacted due to heat stress and water scarcity, threatening food security and rural incomes.
Policy Gaps and Urgent Calls for Action
Despite Nigeria's progress in establishing a broad climate policy framework, Mshelia highlighted that the country lacks targeted strategies for extreme heat events. He acknowledged existing frameworks like the Climate Change Act (2021) and the National Climate Change Policy (2021–2030), as well as institutional coordination through the National Council on Climate Change. However, he stressed that these frameworks remain largely general and do not adequately address heat waves as a distinct and growing risk.
"There is currently no dedicated National Heat Action Plan, and early warning systems for extreme heat remain limited," he said. "There is also weak integration of heat risk into urban planning, labour policies, and public health preparedness."
Mshelia, who also chairs the Board of Directors at the International Centre for Energy, Environment, and Development (ICEED), called for urgent government action, including:
- Developing a National Heat Action Plan to establish heat thresholds, early warning systems, and coordinated emergency responses across all government levels.
- Strengthening data and early warning systems by integrating meteorological information with health surveillance and providing real-time heat alerts to vulnerable communities.
- Promoting climate-resilient urban planning through expanding green spaces, adopting cool roofing technologies, and improving housing design to reduce heat exposure.
- Enhancing public health preparedness by training healthcare systems to manage heat-related illnesses and launching nationwide awareness campaigns on heat safety.
- Protecting vulnerable populations by introducing heat safety guidelines for outdoor workers and adjusting working hours during extreme heat conditions.
He emphasized the importance of integrating heat risk into broader national policies, including climate commitments, agriculture, energy, and disaster risk management frameworks. "While Nigeria's climate policy architecture provides a strong foundation, it must be strengthened with targeted interventions to address the growing threat of extreme heat," Mshelia concluded. "Developing a comprehensive, well-funded National Heat Action Plan backed by reliable data and local implementation is critical to protecting public health, livelihoods, and economic productivity in the face of rising temperatures."
Scientific Evidence and Policy Coordination Needed
Additionally, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST), called for stronger scientific evidence and coordinated policy responses to tackle the growing risks associated with extreme heat in Nigeria. Speaking on concerns over rising temperatures and heat waves, Nwajiuba noted that while climate change is fundamentally driven by increasing global temperatures, there is insufficient local data to conclusively establish a rise in the frequency and intensity of heat waves across the country.
"The main driver of climate change globally is the rise in average temperature above pre-industrial levels. Temperature and climate change are foundational," he explained. "While people may express concerns about increasing heat waves, we need long-term data to compare present conditions with those of at least the past three decades before drawing firm conclusions."
He referenced earlier studies, including the Building Nigeria's Response to Climate Change (BNRCC) project implemented by NEST, which showed a steady temperature rise, particularly in the northeastern region. Nwajiuba, a former Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University in Ebonyi State, clarified that while rising temperatures are linked to climate change, they are not identical to heat waves, which require specific scientific assessment to determine trends in frequency and intensity.
On regional vulnerability, he identified Nigeria's Northeast as the most exposed to extreme heat, based on previous scientific studies, but stressed the need for updated, large-scale research to reflect current realities. He highlighted factors such as urbanisation, deforestation, and geography as significant contributors to heat vulnerability. Rapid urban expansion often replaces natural land cover with heat-absorbing concrete surfaces, while increasing population density drives higher energy consumption and carbon emissions.
"Urbanisation leads to changes in land surface and increased use of fossil fuels, both of which contribute to rising temperatures. Geography also plays a role, depending on a location's position on the globe," he added.
Nwajiuba warned that prolonged heat exposure poses serious risks to public health, ecosystems, and economic activities, particularly agriculture. "Heat has adverse impacts on human health and affects both plant and animal systems. Crop performance can decline, livestock productivity may suffer, and this ultimately affects livelihoods," he said. He noted that extreme heat could reduce agricultural productivity, suggesting that farmers may need to adopt heat-resistant crop varieties and adjust livestock management practices to cope with changing conditions.
On policy preparedness, Nwajiuba stated that Nigeria's response to extreme weather events is currently embedded within the framework of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) but acknowledged the absence of a clearly defined national policy specifically addressing heat waves. "To some extent, the existing emergency response framework covers such issues, but I am not aware of a specific national policy focused on heat waves," he said. "There may be a need for NEMA to develop a dedicated national response framework for extreme heat events."
He emphasized the necessity for renewed scientific research, urging stakeholders to undertake comprehensive climate studies comparable in scale and depth to the BNRCC project, which produced Nigeria's National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change (NASPA-CCN). According to him, such efforts are critical to generating reliable data that can guide policy decisions and strengthen Nigeria's capacity to respond to climate-related risks.
