By Joelson Wilson
Climate change has dominated global conversations for decades. International leaders gather at climate summits, pledging to cut carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy. Workshops, seminars, and sensitization campaigns continue to stress the urgency of this issue, warning of the devastating consequences if it is not addressed.
In Nigeria, the government has made efforts to join these discussions, but realities on the ground; such as gas flaring, unchecked deforestation, environmental pollution, and poor waste management; remain key contributors to the crisis. For many ordinary Nigerians, however, the subject often feels abstract, politicized, or exaggerated. To them, climate change sounds like another scheme by politicians and international agencies to generate funds, while the everyday citizen gains little from the debate.
Yet the reality is undeniable: the seasons are no longer predictable, floods are more destructive, and the signs of climate disruption are here with us.
The Root Causes of Climate Change
At its core, climate change is driven by the excessive release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere; primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases trap heat, leading to a rise in global temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events.
Corporate and Industrial Activities
Gas flaring in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is one of the most glaring examples. For decades, multinational oil companies have burned off natural gas during crude oil extraction. This not only pollutes the air and releases toxic substances into communities but also pumps massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
Globally, industries continue to depend heavily on coal, oil, and gas for energy. From steel production to power plants, corporate giants prioritize profit over sustainability, often lobbying against stricter environmental regulations.
Deforestation and Land Misuse
Nigeria has one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation. Trees, which naturally absorb carbon dioxide, are cut down for timber, farming, or housing. This reduces nature’s ability to balance carbon levels in the atmosphere.
Large-scale agricultural practices; such as slash-and-burn farming, release carbon while degrading soil fertility, creating a cycle of poverty and environmental destruction.
The government must return to the various plan of the cities and follow it strictly. Provision of proper housing scheme will curtail the incessant building of houses and businesses by private individuals to accommodate the rising population.
Transportation and Energy Use
In urban centres, reliance on old, poorly maintained vehicles that burn fossil fuels worsens air pollution. Globally, the transport sector contributes nearly 25% of carbon emissions.
Heavy use of diesel generators in Nigeria, due to unreliable power supply, adds another layer to the country’s carbon footprint.
Waste Mismanagement
Across cities, improper waste disposal leads to the accumulation of plastics and non-biodegradable materials. When burned, they release toxic gases. When dumped in waterways, they clog drainages, intensifying the impact of floods during the rainy season.
Individual Choices and Lifestyles
From the plastics we use daily to the preference for private cars over public transport, individual actions also add up. A single household burning refuse, leaving lights on unnecessarily, or discarding non-recyclable materials contributes, albeit in small doses, to the larger environmental crisis.
Collectively, these “small” choices, repeated millions of times over, exacerbate the global problem.
The Nigerian Survival Mentality
Despite these global and national causes, the Nigerian character is defined by resilience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when economies collapsed and fear gripped the world, many Nigerians continued life as usual. While the middle class in estates rushed to buy masks, sanitizers, and even necklaces believed to repel the virus, ordinary Nigerians in local communities relied on their traditional coping mechanisms and kept life going.
This resilience is both a strength and a weakness: while it keeps Nigerians adapting in times of crisis, it also breeds a sense of detachment from global issues like climate change, which are dismissed as remote concerns.
Climate Change in Everyday Life
To make climate change real for the ordinary Nigerian, it must be linked to what they know: the rainy and dry seasons.
In the past, these seasons were predictable. Farmers planned their planting and harvests, families scheduled events, and the harmattan’s dryness was countered with palm kernel oil and other remedies. But today, weather patterns have become erratic. The once-predictable August Break is no longer certain. Rains now fall with unusual intensity, overwhelming drainage systems and submerging communities.
Experts warn that the flooding witnessed in several states is directly linked to climate change. Yet beyond expert warnings, Nigerians themselves can see the evidence; houses underwater, roads washed away, and crops destroyed.
Coping Strategies: A Civil Servant’s Perspective
While ordinary Nigerians may not control corporate decisions or global policy, adaptation remains key. From my perspective as a civil servant in Delta State, these are practical steps for coping with the unpredictable rainy season:
Leave Early for Work (differs base on traffic situation) : Depart an hour earlier to navigate waterlogged routes, drop children at school, and arrive at work settled.
Use Protective Footwear: Carry non-absorbing shoes to cross flooded areas without ruining quality footwear.
Carry Rain Gear: Keep an umbrella or raincoat handy at all times.
Dress for Flexibility: Bring extra clothing during the rainy months to avoid discomfort in cold, air-conditioned offices.
Plan Laundry Wisely: Wash clothes when someone is at home to monitor sudden rainfall.
Keep the Environment Clean: Participate in sanitation and dispose of waste properly to prevent drain blockages.
Choose Indoor Venues for Events: Avoid reliance on canopies, as rains are often accompanied by destructive winds.
A Call for Responsibility
Climate change is not just a government or corporate concern. While corporations must be held accountable for gas flaring, deforestation, and unsustainable practices, individuals must also recognize their role. From the energy we consume to the waste we generate, our everyday choices matter.
In Delta State, the government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is launching transport systems as part of his M.O.R.E Agenda; to ease mobility and reduce citizens’ reliance on small, high-emission vehicles. Initiatives like this are steps in the right direction. But citizens must also embrace change: reducing waste, conserving energy, and adopting eco-friendly practices.
The State Government is also opening up the drainages to allow the flow building new drainage systems in various parts of the state to contain the incessant flooding in several areas and communities.
The Sheriff Oborevwori government is actively playing its part in the shared responsibility for development. As the Chief Adviser to the Governor, rightly puts it at the recent ‘DEAR GOVERNOR’ event held in Warri, “development is a shared responsibility between government and citizens”, he said.
Just as Nigerians seldom read manuals for new products, climate change may feel like another distant “manual” written for someone else. But the reality of floods, irregular rains, and disrupted seasons shows otherwise.
As the proverb goes: “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” With resilience, creativity, and responsible action; from corporations, governments, and individuals alike, Nigeria can adapt to the realities of climate change while contributing to its global solution.
