Climate Change: A Nigerian Narrative by Tolulope Ajobiewe

In commemoration of the coming World Environment Day, here's an article by 'Tolu Ajobiewe

Climate Change: A Nigerian Narrative

Writers, story tellers, singers, researchers and analysts have provided in recent times tales and accounts of climate change, bearing and bringing forward facts, assumptions, opinions, predictions and projections of the unseen tomorrow as much as climate change is concerned. This narrative however, draws from the stream of knowledge and pool of facts provided hitherto.

But before proceeding with my tale on climate change: the Nigerian perspective, allow me woo you with these descriptions. Climate change refers to an increase in average global temperatures. Wikipedia described climate change as a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e. decades to millions of years). In other words, climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in the time variation of conditions (i.e. more or fewer extreme weather events).

Odd as might sound, natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperatures and in turn identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred to as ‘‘global warming’’. Nasiru Idris (2011) discussed the issue further noting that an increase in average global temperatures is caused primarily by the upsurge in greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Climate Change and Nigeria

To borrow a line from a blog post on Nigeria published by Ecofreak in the past, it goes thus-

‘‘Welcome to Nigeria, to the south of Niger, to a liberalized British colony

   Welcome to Nigeria, a land of hundreds of millions,

   A land of many tongues, a land owned by many, a land of diverse tribes.

   Welcome to Nigeria, a land of minerals, a haven for agriculture

   Welcome.’’

Nigeria has since 1992, given prominence to handling of climate change issues through the establishment of the Federal Environment Agency (FEPA) in 1988. The administration of climate change in Nigeria was first identified and situated in the Department of Planning and Evaluation under the defunct Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA) as part of the agency’s mandate. In line with the mandate, FEPA led the Nigeria delegation to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1992 and signed the United Nations framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which was opened for signature at the conference.

The Federal Government of Nigeria in demonstrating serious commitment to the issue of environmental protection and resources, relocated the climate change unit to the department of Environmental Assessment in December, 2004. This was approved by former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006. The Unit is now situated in the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The Nigerian Narrative

Nigeria is experiencing adverse climate conditions with negative impacts on the welfare of millions of people, hence, the reality has dawned upon us as a nation, the manifestations are visible to even the blind, the disruption in seasonal cycles and ecosystems, the tides in agriculture, water needs and supply shortfall, episodes of food production deficits, etcetera are all practical illustrations of the prophesies of the 4^th IPCC assessment report signaling that Africa will be worst hit by the effects of climate change.

Alarm bells are ringing with lakes drying up and a reduction in river flow in the arid and semi-arid region of the country. Sea-levels are on the rise with its attendant consequences such as fiercer weather, increased frequency and intensity of storms, floods, hurricanes, increased frequency of fires, poverty, malnutrition and series of health and socio-economic consequences. This reminds one of Nasiru Idris’s avowal that ‘‘we are going to be caught between the devil of drought and the deep sea of floods.’’

On a lighter mode, I must hastily add that Nigeria had played virtually no role in global warming; a problem caused by economic activity of rich industrial countries. Does that then justify our decision to fold our hands and act unconcerned because we never partook in the actions that has led to climate change? Perhaps we should have no share at all in this global guilt!

Our elders say – ‘‘He who does not know from where the rain started drenching him, may not even remember where he dried his body.’’ Based on this saying, we cannot as a nation forget that there are now few water supplies for use in agriculture, hydropower generation and other uses. We should all wake from this slumber and face the danger of unprecedented threat to food security. The impact of climate change as opined earlier, is vast in Nigeria, this means that some stable ecosystems such as Sahel Savanna may become vulnerable because warming will reinforce existing patterns of water scarcity and increasing the risk of drought.

In a lay man’s tongue, the implication of global warming means that many dry areas are going to get drier and wet areas are going to get wetter.

The road to the future.

If this trend continues, it begs a question of how mindful Nigeria is in meeting up to its bargain and treaty on sustainability. No doubt, the task ahead is a daunting one in all its ramifications, however there is the need to remain undaunted citizens and climate change advocates in different capacities and portfolios no matter how little. Therefore my humble implorations are such that better planning is embarked upon to reduce the risk from disasters, together with developing agricultural practices that can withstand changing climates.

Furthermore, policies should be put in place to curb the climate change by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels like gas or carbon. Although this has significant economic impacts on the producers and suppliers of these fuels. If this happens, the Nigerian national economy being the eight largest oil supplier in the world and the ninth largest deposits of gas would be massively affected by a sustainable reduction of fossil energy consumption. Bearing in mind that 90-95% of the export earnings and more than 90% of the foreign exchange revenues in Nigeria are from the oil sector. In spite of that, 75% of this gas has been flared due to lack of technical facilities to make use of it. A study commissioned by the World Bank in 2007, Nigeria accounts for roughly one-sixth of the world-wide gas flaring which in turn, spews some 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you ask me, this is global warming- the ozone layer is at the receiving end of this non-eco-friendly actions.

However, looking at the bigger picture, a country like Nigeria can remedy this trend; if public awareness is treated as a priority, if commissions and agency that will handle issues related to global warming and climate change are established where non-existent and properly financed, equipped and managed where existent, and if research is promoted by the Federal, State, Local Governments, international agencies and other development partners by funding climate change projects in Nigeria for sustainable solutions.

Conclusively, the Nigerian government should improve their financial status towards the solution of findings on this issue.