Climate change straining Nigeria's health system, NAS warns
L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Academy of Science, Mr Doyin Odubanjo; Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), University of Lagos, Babajide. . .
L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Academy of Science, Mr Doyin Odubanjo; Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), University of Lagos, Babajide Alo; and Me Wale Fatade, at the media roundtable. Climate change is fast evolving from an environmental concern into a major public health emergency, with devastating consequences for Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system, the Nigeria Academy of Science (NAS) has warned. The Academy said changing rainfall patterns, recurrent flooding, rising temperatures, environmental degradation and worsening air pollution are fueling disease outbreaks, food insecurity, cardiovascular illnesses, respiratory diseases and declining living standards across the country. It therefore urged the Federal Government to prioritise locally led climate adaptation by empowering communities to drive climate resilience and protect public health. The warning was issued on Thursday during a media parley organised by NAS with the theme, “Climate Change, Health, and the Nigerian Reality. ” The event brought together scientists and stakeholders to examine the growing health implications of climate change and chart a pathway towards a climate-resilient Nigeria. Speaking on behalf of the President of NAS, Professor Abubakar Sambo, the Academy’s Public Affairs Secretary and Fellow, Professor Chinedum Babalola, said the theme could not have come at a more critical time. According to her, Nigeria is already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change through flooding-induced cholera outbreaks, extreme heat worsening cardiovascular diseases, changing rainfall patterns affecting food production and nutrition, and increasing air pollution driving respiratory illnesses. “The World Health Organization describes climate change as the single biggest health threat of the 21st century. For Nigeria, with our population size, infrastructure gaps and double burden of disease, the impacts are direct and immediate,” she said. Delivering a presentation titled “Climate Change, Health, and the Nigerian Reality: Securing Our Climate Future for a Resilient Nigeria,” Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), University of Lagos, Professor Babajide Alo, traced the origins of the climate crisis to the Industrial Revolution, noting that human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas—remain the primary drivers of global warming. He described climate change as long-term alterations in temperature, rainfall and wind patterns caused largely by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, including fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. According to him, the consequences include rising sea levels, more frequent and severe natural disasters, disruption of ecosystems, declining agricultural productivity and increasing threats to human health. He stressed that tackling climate change requires urgent efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to cleaner energy sources, strengthen mitigation strategies and implement adaptation measures capable of protecting vulnerable populations. Professor Alo warned that climate change poses an existential threat not only to the world but also to Nigeria’s sustainable development, endangering lives, food security, public health, livelihoods, national security and economic stability. . He noted that rising temperatures, coastal erosion, flooding, desertification and other climate-related disasters continue to threaten communities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with the poorest populations, women, young people, farmers and fishing communities bearing the greatest burden. Highlighting the public health implications, he said climate-related disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including older persons, people living with disabilities and the homeless. . He added that while about 100 million people worldwide are homeless, nearly 1. 6 billion live in inadequate housing, making them less able to prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-related disasters. To build a climate-resilient future, Professor Alo advocated a shift from top-down approaches to Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), where communities take the lead in identifying, designing and implementing climate solutions. According to him, local communities experience the direct impacts of climate change and possess valuable indigenous knowledge that can strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable adaptation. “We need to empower local populations to take ownership of climate solutions. By leveraging indigenous knowledge, investing in local capacity and promoting inclusive decision-making, communities can proactively mitigate climate risks and build long-term resilience,” he said. . He explained that community-led adaptation would produce more sustainable outcomes because locally owned solutions are better tailored to specific needs and are more likely to be maintained over time. Professor Alo added that empowering grassroots communities would also promote social cohesion and peacebuilding, particularly in conflict-prone areas, as collaborative management of shared natural resources such as forests and water sources could strengthen trust while delivering greater environmental and economic benefits. He, however, acknowledged challenges to implementing locally led adaptation, including inadequate funding, limited technical capacity and concerns about inclusivity. He urged government and development partners to provide adequate financing, technical support and inclusive policies that place vulnerable populations at the centre of climate action.