Climate change has altered Nigeria’s rainfall, FG urges flood preparedness

The Federal Government on Wednesday urged Nigerians to begin immediate preparations for possible flooding as the rainy season intensifies, warning that climate change has significantly altered the country’s rainfall patterns and heightened flood risks across several states.

The call was made by the Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Yussuf Kelani, who said recent flooding in Lagos and other parts of the country should serve as a wake-up call for governments, communities and citizens to prioritise disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Kelani said climate change was no longer a future environmental concern but a present-day national development challenge requiring coordinated action at all levels.

He said, “Climate change has altered the frequency, duration and intensity of rainfall across many regions of the country. Instead of moderate rainfall spread over several days, communities increasingly experience short-duration but extremely heavy downpours that overwhelm drainage infrastructure, flood rivers, destroy roads and displace entire communities.”

According to him, scientific evidence has shown that rising global temperatures are increasing atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall and more frequent flooding, coastal erosion, desertification and prolonged droughts in different parts of Nigeria.

Kelani said the recent floods, which submerged roads, disrupted businesses and damaged homes in Lagos and other locations, underscored the growing vulnerability of urban centres to climate-related disasters.

“Every flood is ultimately a human tragedy before it becomes an environmental statistic,” he said, noting that thousands of Nigerians had suffered losses of property, livelihoods and productivity.

The presidential aide warned that flood risks extend beyond Lagos, stressing that communities along the Rivers Niger and Benue, as well as states in the North-Central, South-South, South-East, parts of the North-West and coastal regions, remain highly vulnerable.

“As we move further into the rainy season, Nigerians living in flood-prone communities should begin preparations immediately. Waiting until floodwaters arrive is waiting too late,” he said.

He urged state governments, local government councils, traditional institutions, religious organisations and community associations to strengthen public awareness campaigns, inspect drainage infrastructure and activate emergency response plans before the peak of the rainy season.

Kelani also called on Nigerians to adopt environmentally responsible practices, including regular clearing of drainage channels, proper waste disposal, tree planting, and adherence to weather forecasts and flood advisories.

“Climate resilience begins with environmental responsibility,” he stated.

Drawing lessons from countries such as the Netherlands, Japan, Bangladesh, Kenya and Pakistan, he said Nigeria must increase investment in modern drainage infrastructure, flood forecasting and early warning systems, sustainable urban planning, wetland restoration and other climate adaptation measures.

“Floods cannot always be prevented, but disasters can be significantly minimised through planning, preparedness, engineering, public awareness and strong institutions,” he added.

Kelani further identified climate education as a critical tool for reducing disaster risks, arguing that many Nigerians still see flooding merely as heavy rainfall rather than the combined effect of climate change, poor urban planning, blocked drainage systems and environmental degradation.

“Climate literacy should become part of everyday public education. An informed population is a resilient population,” he said.

He added that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, remains committed to implementing the Climate Change Act, the Energy Transition Plan and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions to strengthen climate resilience.

However, he stressed that government efforts alone would not be sufficient.

“Government efforts can only succeed when matched by responsible citizen action. Climate change is no longer tomorrow’s problem. It is today’s reality. The actions we take today will determine whether future generations inherit safer, more resilient communities or continue to face recurring climate disasters,” Kelani said.

Nigeria experiences widespread flooding almost every rainy season, with climate change, rapid urbanisation, inadequate drainage infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal worsening the impact of heavy rainfall.

The devastating 2022 floods, regarded as one of the country’s worst in decades, affected more than 30 states, killed over 600 people, displaced about 1.4 million residents, and destroyed thousands of homes, schools, roads and farmlands.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency have consistently warned that above-normal rainfall and rising water levels could trigger flooding in vulnerable communities, underscoring the need for early preparedness, improved infrastructure and stronger climate adaptation measures to minimise the impact on lives and livelihoods.