Monday, September 12, 2016

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA

AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON CLIMATE CHANGE


BY AMB. ANAS SANUSI GUSAU


TOPIC: IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA.


The impacts of climate change are felt by both developed and developing countries. Many sectors of Nigeria’s economy appear to be directly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These impacts are currently taking their toils on the agricultural production, health, biodiversity, social, economic, manufacturing and energy sector, etc.

This paper will cover only two aspects, i.e. the impacts of climate change on the Health Sector, Energy Generation and Supply in Nigeria.


     ▷ Impact of Climate Change on Health Sector in Nigeria

Africa has a number of climate-sensitive diseases, the most prominent being malaria, meningitis and cholera. In West Africa, the disease is linked to epizootic diseases with increased risks during the wet season. The Intergovernmental Penal on Climate Change (IPCC, 2001) concluded that increased precipitation as a consequence of climate change will increase the risk of infections of this kind to livestock and humans. Nigeria in particular, Climate change affects human health directly or indirectly in many ways. Changes in temperature, precipitation, rising sea levels and increasing frequencies have great implications on human health in the area of injury, illness, morbidity and mortality. Rising sea level is anticipated as a result of climate change. Hence, it may result to flooding, which is likely to increase the vulnerability of the poor to malaria, typhoid, cholera and pneumonia. Furthermore, temperature and rainfall dynamics may increase the distribution of disease vectors such as dengue, malaria and incidence of diarrheal disease.


▷ Impact of Climate Change on Energy Generation and Supply in Nigeria

Nigeria has an abundant supply of energy sources as it’s endowed with thermal, hydro, solar, oil resources and yet still described as an energy poor country. Nigeria as a country is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change because its economy is mainly dependent on income generated from the production, processing, export and/or consumption of fossil fuels and associated energy-intensive products.


In conclusion, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and must, therefore, as a matter of urgency, take steps to reduce its vulnerability, build its resilience and its adaptive capacity. Henceforth, certain adaptation and mitigation strategies have to be employed so as to take appropriate actions to prevent or minimize the damages they can cause to the developing economy of Nigeria and livelihood of the people.


Reference:

Okali, D. Climate Change and Nigeria: A guide for Policy Makers. Nigerian Environmental Study/ Action Team (NEST); 2004.


Ebele, N.E. Emodi, N.V. Climate Change and Its Impact in Nigerian Economy. April 2016. 12th September, 2016
@AUSC @AYTF @NAC

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