What is causing Nigeria’s extreme heat?

As yet another heat dome establishes itself over the southern and northern tiers of Nigeria, temperatures are predicted to soar to possibly record-breaking heights throughout the country’s southern and northern regions. Nigeria would be experiencing these unusually high temperatures for a third time.since 2016. But in 2023, there have been numerous extreme and fatal heat waves that have baked places all over the world, including China, Algeria, and the United States.

 

Some of the main indicators of the urgency of the climate crisis brought on by human activity burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere are the trend towards increasingly frequent, prolonged, and intense heat waves.

 

Following the historic Paris climate change agreement, Nigeria pledged in December 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Yet, the government and everyone else were oblivious to the impending climate catastrophe due to the quickly expanding megacities and industrial fossil fuels burning. As a result, nobody is ready, including the government and businesses.

The typical change from Nigeria’s rainy to dry seasons was connected by NiMET to the atypical heat. However, the heatwave signals the start of a climate action that goes beyond seasonal changes. These climate-related actions can only be caused by humans.

 

While furniture designers continue deforesting, with the government giving low campaigns for afforestation. Dangote Refinery joined a list of Oil and Gas companies in Lagos and Nigeria burning fossil fuels as the company was inaugurated in 2023 to start operating. This may be one of the reasons for the first time in Lagos, last Sunday, the bustling city was with a high heat wave air temperatures with the degree hitting 97°F during day time and 86°F at night, according to weather channel. Similar high temperatures have been forecast for the rest of the country.

 

Extreme heat—particularly if it is prolonged—is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly, according to an article What’s Causing This Record-Breaking Heat? On Scientific American website.

 

Experts have said high temperatures are disastrous and can lead to numerous diseases, including deaths. This was in consonance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) which said the high heat can cause fainting, chicken pox disease, measles, heat rash, weakness of the body, slight fever, dry lips, heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues, and increased vulnerability to chronic conditions.

 

Perhaps, the heat is controllable. But the Nigeria’s infrequent and erratic power supply is the major concern. Last week of January to February, Nigeria’s atmosphere waned from usual 20 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius by day. The degree which has been described as temperature levels where there is the need to have “High Caution.”

 

Nigerians from across the country starts complaining about the geothermal atmosphere while condemning the government for not issuing out warning and security measures to take as the temperature keeps piping hot.

 

A Twitter/X, user @TheTopeSanni, says “we are currently experiencing a heat wave in Nigeria. Why’s no one in the government talking about it? No warnings, nothing on the airwaves. This lackadaisical attitude towards the welfare of citizens is quite concerning. It may seem small, but it can go bad, real quick.”

 

@Ovieyare, another Twitter/X user condemned the extent of the recognition given to the heat wave while adding that infrequent power supply and high cost of buying fuel add insult to injury.

 

“If it was the UK or US experiencing this heat we’re currently experiencing in Nigeria,” the user wrote. “All them BBC and CNN would’ve been reporting the news back to back. But look at us suffering with barely 8hrs light a day and a litre of fuel ₦660 ”

 

However, while the complaints pour, in February, NiMET said, “Airborne temperatures hit 41°C over the North and 39°C over the South with model Projections indicating temperatures to remain high in the coming days.”

 

This made the agency to warn of dehydration and heatstroke as the heat stress sets in. The 41°C is considered very high and dangerous and can lead to a medical emergency that requires immediate professional attention. The agency noted that “Everywhere is just hot in Nigeria,” and the temperatures may remain higher in the coming days.

 

Nigeria Health Watch also confirmed the heatwave while advising on the necessary precautions to take on it. According to its post on Twitter/X, “the excessive heat currently being experienced in Nigeria exposes individuals to various health risks, including heatstroke & dehydration. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly & persons with pre-existing health conditions are particularly susceptible to these risks.

 

Beyond this, people have said Nigeria continues to experience a scorching sun and hot weather with excess perspiration as a result of sizzling temperatures across the country. But our findings have found that not all parts of Nigeria.

 

Residents from Kano, North West; Jos, North Central; and Bauchi, North East told the PIJAlance that temperatures remain cool by day and very cool at night.

 

Contrastingly, speaking with residents in Minna, Niger, one of the North Central States, Minna climate is very hot. Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun are among the Southwestern States that are currently too hot.

 

In a research published by the World Bank Climate Change Portal in 2021, Nigeria will usually be hot between December to February. Annual temperature for Nigeria is 27.2°C, with average monthly temperatures ranging between 24°C (December, January) and 30°C (April). Mean annual precipitation is 1,162.8 mm.

 

Rainfall is experienced throughout the year in Nigeria, with most significant rainfall occurring from April to October and with minimal rainfall occurring November to March.

 

Around 2015 to 2019, Nigeria starts to experience a heatwave with northern states experiencing high occurrences as Minna had a temperature of 42.2°C, Daily Post reports. Years before this time, when there is sun, the heat is minimal and when there is moon, the heat disappears.

 

In 2010, Yola had the highest recorded temperature in the list of countries and territories with 46.4°C affected by extreme temperatures.

 

NiMET in its last report had warned that Nigeria would experience what it called “mean temperature”. But the degree it stated was between 21.1°C and 29.3°C, with the lowest temperature of 21.1°C expected over Plateau state and its environs, while the highest temperature of 29.3°C is expected over Nguru, Yobe State.

 

In the report NiMET also stated that the projected maximum temperatures across the country would be between the range of 25.0°C to 35.0°C. Higher temperatures, according to the document, will be between 35°C over the Northeast and Northwest. But the projections have fall out with 41°C, Nigeria can only be thinking of solutions to control the climatic actions in the future as climate knocks.

 

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