Global warming has disrupted Nigeria's precipitation patterns, prompting federal government call for flood readiness

The Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerians, urging them to start preparing for potential flooding as the rainy season gains momentum, citing the impact of climate change on the country's rainfall patterns and the heightened risk of flooding in several states.

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This call to action was made by Yussuf Kelani, the Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, who noted that recent flooding in Lagos and other parts of the country should serve as a warning to governments, communities, and citizens to prioritize disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

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According to Kelani, climate change is no longer a future concern, but a present-day national development challenge that requires coordinated action at all levels, as evidenced by the altered frequency, duration, and intensity of rainfall across many regions of the country.

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He explained that instead of experiencing moderate rainfall over several days, communities are now facing short-duration but extremely heavy downpours that overwhelm drainage infrastructure, flood rivers, destroy roads, and displace entire communities.

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Scientific evidence, Kelani said, 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.

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The recent floods, which submerged roads, disrupted businesses, and damaged homes in Lagos and other locations, have underscored the growing vulnerability of urban centers to climate-related disasters, with thousands of Nigerians suffering losses of property, livelihoods, and productivity.

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Kelani warned that flood risks extend beyond Lagos, with 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, remaining highly vulnerable to flooding.

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He urged Nigerians living in flood-prone communities to begin preparations immediately, stating that waiting until floodwaters arrive is waiting too late, and that state governments, local government councils, traditional institutions, religious organizations, and community associations should strengthen public awareness campaigns and inspect drainage infrastructure.

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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, noting that climate resilience begins with environmental responsibility.

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

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Kelani stated that floods cannot always be prevented, but disasters can be significantly minimized through planning, preparedness, engineering, public awareness, and strong institutions, and that climate education is a critical tool for reducing disaster risks.

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He argued 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, and that climate literacy should become part of everyday public education.

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Kelani said that an informed population is a resilient population, and 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.

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However, he stressed that government efforts alone will not be sufficient, and that government efforts can only succeed when matched by responsible citizen action, noting that climate change is no longer tomorrow's problem, but today's reality.

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Kelani said that the actions taken today will determine whether future generations inherit safer, more resilient communities or continue to face recurring climate disasters, emphasizing the need for collective action to address the challenge of climate change.

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Nigeria experiences widespread flooding almost every rainy season, with climate change, rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and indiscriminate waste disposal worsening the impact of heavy rainfall, as seen in the devastating 2022 floods that affected over 30 states.

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The 2022 floods, regarded as one of the country's worst in decades, killed over 600 people, displaced about 1.4 million residents, and destroyed thousands of homes, schools, roads, and farmlands, highlighting the need for early preparedness and stronger climate adaptation measures.

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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 improved infrastructure and climate adaptation measures to minimize the impact on lives and livelihoods.