BY: Mustapha Lawal
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) issued a heat stress warning due to soaring temperatures across Nigeria. In a report posted on X on Thursday, NiMet revealed that as of Wednesday, February 19, maximum temperatures ranged between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius, with Yelwa recording the highest at 40℃. This is almost double the Mean annual temperature for Nigeria, which is 26.9°C, with average monthly temperatures ranging between 24°C (December, January) and 30°C (April) according to World Bank Climate Portal..
Source: NIMET
NiMet warned that high air temperatures are expected to persist and may even rise further in certain regions. The anticipated influx of moisture reaching deep inland into the central states, coupled with high temperatures, will escalate discomfort levels. NiMet also cautioned that early morning, day, and night temperatures will feel warmer than their actual values, leading to increased discomfort. The agency identified several states as most vulnerable to rising heat stress and advised residents to take precautions. The warning emphasizes that prolonged exposure to such high temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and life-threatening heat strokes.
Source: NIMET
According to NiMet, Kebbi, Jalingo, and Yola will experience the highest temperatures at 42°C, while Lafia is expected to hit 41°C, and Minna and Makurdi will reach 40°C. Overall, temperatures will range between 36°C and 42°C in the North and 34°C to 39°C in the South.
In 2024, global temperatures reached record highs, with the World Meteorological Organization confirming it as the warmest year on record, averaging 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels. The trend continues in 2025 with January recorded as the warmest globally despite the presence of a typically cooling La Niña event.
The Rising Threat of Heat Stress
Heat stress occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate, leading to severe physiological strain. While definitions of heatwaves vary, meteorologists often describe them as periods of at least four days where temperatures exceed historical averages. It is a period where local excess heat accumulates over a sequence of unusually hot days and nights.
Given this definition, Nigeria is clearly facing a crisis, with longer and more intense heat periods becoming a regular occurrence. This is particularly dangerous given the tropical nature of the country, where high temperatures, humidity, and poor ventilation combine to create extreme heat conditions.
Over the past decade, heat stress has worsened significantly in Nigeria. A climate study covering 2009-2020 found a continuous increase in extreme heat events, especially in Northern Nigeria, where temperatures are already high. With the NiMet Heat Stress Watch, warning of soaring temperatures across the country, with some regions expected to reach a scorching 42°C, it is evident that the threat is serious.
What is Driving the Increase in Heat Stress?
Climate scientists agree that human-induced climate change is the biggest factor behind rising global temperatures. Nigeria is experiencing the effects of deforestation, rapid urbanization, and shifting rainfall patterns, which intensify heatwaves and reduce natural cooling mechanisms.
- Deforestation: Nigeria loses approximately 350,000 hectares of forest annually, reducing natural tree cover that helps cool the environment [Global Forest Watch].
- Urban Heat Islands (UHIs): Cities are hotter than rural areas due to concrete structures, lack of vegetation, and heat-absorbing surfaces, worsening urban heat stress.
- Declining Rainfall and Desertification: Sahel regions in Northern Nigeria are experiencing longer dry seasons, leading to desert expansion and higher ground temperatures [UNCCD].
Nigeria’s Heat Crisis Demands More Than Warnings
NiMet’s warnings are essential for raising public awareness, but they are not enough. Heat stress is no longer just a seasonal challenge—it is a growing public health and environmental emergency that requires a coordinated response from governments, urban planners, and health professionals.
Nigeria needs:
- Improved Climate Adaptation Policies: Nigeria must prioritize heat adaptation, including the planting of trees, creation of shaded areas, and better urban ventilation planning [World Bank].
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Public education on heat safety is crucial. More efforts are needed to inform citizens about how to stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure, and recognize heat stress symptoms [CDC].
- Emergency Response Measures: Hospitals and clinics should be better equipped to handle heat-related illnesses, with more cooling shelters available in cities
- Stronger Energy Policies: Increased investment in renewable energy and cooling technologies is essential to mitigate heat-related power outages [IEA].
Heat stress warnings, like the one issued by NiMet, should not be ignored. These warnings signal a deeper crisis—one that will worsen without proactive intervention. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more deadly. If Nigeria does not take urgent steps to address heat adaptation, improve energy resilience, and protect vulnerable populations, the consequences will extend beyond public discomfort—they will threaten lives, livelihoods, and economic stability. The time for bold climate action, urban reform, and stronger public health measures is now. Ignoring these warnings will only leave Nigeria unprepared for the challenges ahead.
