Extreme heat is becoming increasingly difficult to escape in Nigeria, with 23 cities recording daytime temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher in 2025, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, reports.
Nguru, Yobe State, recorded 100 days of such temperatures, peaking at 44.6 degrees Celsius.
The rising temperatures are affecting millions of Nigerians, particularly outdoor workers and low-income households with poorly ventilated homes and unreliable electricity.
Residents in Kano, Gombe and Lagos say the heat is disrupting sleep, reducing productivity and increasing household expenses, while experts warn of growing health risks, declining agricultural output and worsening food insecurity.
Globally, the World Meteorological Organization reported that 2025 was among the three warmest years on record, with average surface temperatures about 1.44 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1900 average. NiMet’s 2025 State of the Climate report also found that nine of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 ranked among Nigeria’s 12 warmest years.
Its 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction forecasts above-normal daytime and night-time temperatures across much of the country during several months.
In Kano, residents say the heat has disrupted daily activities and livelihoods. Mrs. Rekiya Aliyu said the hot weather was more intense than anything she had experienced since moving to the city.
“This year, there was no extreme cold weather at all, even during the cold season. After Ramadan, the kind of heat we’ve experienced in Kano is like nothing I’ve seen since I moved here,” she said, adding that she pours water on her body “from morning till night” to find relief.
Housewife Mrs. Salma Usman said her children had developed heat rashes and frequently cried from discomfort, while bricklayer Yusufa Abdullahi said sleepless nights left him exhausted and dizzy at work.
Poor electricity supply compounds the situation. Schoolteacher Ele Abalaka said power sometimes lasted only a few minutes, forcing households to rely on generators or solar power.
Generator fuel, she added, could cost more than N7,000 daily. Beverage producer Matilda Udo also said buying ice blocks to preserve her zobo, kunu and tiger-nut drinks sometimes wiped out her profit.
In Gombe, some families have resorted to sleeping outdoors because their homes retain heat and lack adequate ventilation. Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, of Nasarawa, said his family had slept outside for more than a month despite concerns about security.
“We can’t even sleep inside, it is now almost impossible because the room is extremely hot and there is no air blowing into the house,” he said.
Other residents reported increased spending on cold drinks and ice, while some traders close their shops during the hottest afternoon hours.
Also Read: NiMet issues three-day thunderstorm, rainfall forecast
Trees planted under the Gombe Goes Green initiative have provided temporary relief, highlighting the importance of urban greenery.
In Lagos, residents of Oshodi, Ikeja and Agege said high humidity and frequent power cuts made their homes uncomfortable, particularly at night.
Food vendor Funmi Adebayo said her small fan provided little relief, while petty trader Esther Nnadi sometimes spread mats outside for her children when indoor temperatures became unbearable.
Environmental experts describe the situation as “heat poverty”, where inadequate housing, unreliable electricity and limited access to cooling leave poorer households particularly vulnerable.
Dr Hauwa Kwanda, a resident doctor at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, wear lightweight clothing and limit exposure to direct sunlight.
She urged people to seek immediate medical attention for severe weakness, confusion, persistent vomiting or collapse.
In Oyo State, the government issued a public health advisory following a severe heat stress alert from NiMet. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Ademola Aderinto advised residents to limit outdoor activities between noon and 4 p.m., stay hydrated and ensure proper ventilation. He also warned against leaving children, older people or pets in parked vehicles.
The effects extend to agriculture and livestock. Akinmayowa Shobo, Program Manager at HEDA Resource Centre, said parts of northern Nigeria could experience temperatures between 37 and 43 degrees Celsius in March and April 2026.
He warned that prolonged heat could harm livestock, reduce maize yields and worsen food insecurity. He also said Nigeria’s average temperature had risen by about 1.2 degrees Celsius in recent decades.
Experts have called for more tree planting to reduce urban heat. Prof. Sylvester Egwu, Executive Director of Environment Aware and Restoration Network, said his organization was working with the Lagos Ministry of the Environment to identify suitable planting sites and maintain trees.
Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, blamed worsening heat on environmental neglect, fossil-fuel dependence, gas flaring and the loss of urban greenery.
Shobo recommended public education, cooling centers, mobile health clinics, access to clean drinking water and improved early-warning systems. Long-term measures, he said, should include renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, heat-resistant crops, urban forestry and a national heat action plan.
Residents’ experiences underline the need for coordinated action to protect vulnerable communities. While individuals can reduce exposure by staying hydrated and avoiding the hottest hours, experts say lasting protection also requires reliable electricity, heat-resilient housing, accessible healthcare, adequate water supplies and investment in green spaces.
NAN
