Climate change: A serious hazard to Nigeria

African countries especially Nigeria, may suffer more

damaging health hazards as a result of climatic change induced by gas flaring in the Niger Delta and other atmospheric emission from human activities. Although African countries contribute less than three percent of global emission of greenhouse gases, yet Nigeria has been rated 35th out of about 150 member states by a World Bank study on global greenhouse emissions.

Greenhouse Gases are atmospheric emissions such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Others such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) are produced through natural processes and more recently due to increase in human activities. These gases make up only about one percent of the atmosphere around the earth, but act like a blanket in the air and the gas molecules trap the solar heat that radiates off the earth back out of the universe. These gases keep the planet about 30 degrees warmer than what it would otherwise be.
This disturbing situation, according to the ministry of environment, calls for urgent action by the Federal Government to avert the attendant terrible consequences. The ministry explained that there is now an increasing pressure mounting on potential polluters, users of energy and conspicuous contributors to global warming and climate change to clean up their act and adopt greener practices, stressing that the transport industry were not left out to such scrutiny and pressure. This situation, environmentalists say had also made it compulsory for Nigeria to develop local adaptation plan within its limited capacity and resources to fight climate change and to save its citizens and the future generations from the looming dangers associated with this atmospheric emission.
Reacting on the effect of the global warming, the Minister of Environment, John Odey, said already Nigeria is already facing the problems arising from carbon emission such as poverty, disease, uneven economic development, drought, desertification, flooding and lack of access to clean water. He explained that the climatic change and response to the multi-faceted problems it presents had already become the defining challenge of the 21st century, saying that study by International Maritime Organisation on GreenHouse Gas emission shows that shipping activities had contributed about 847 million tons in 2007. He explained that although there were efforts to increase sea transportation efficiency and reduce Greenhouse Gases emission, he however called for the use of renewable energy sources that are climate-sensitive and environmentally friendly.
However, reports had revealed that in the Niger Delta region, the inhabitants are already facing serious agricultural problems, shortage of water resources and lack of food security. Also, people living in the region are experiencing health hazards, terrestrial ecosystems problems, as well as biodiversity and flooding because of gas flaring. Similarly, because of flooding especially during the rainy season, environmentalists say most of the residents in the Niger Delta have abandoned their natural habitats because of the disaster associated with global warming.
According to Nick Hopwood and Jordan Cohen in an article, ‘Greenhouse Gases and Society’, shorter-wavelength solar radiation from the sun passes through earth’s atmosphere and is absorbed by the surface of the earth, causing it to warm. Part of the absorbed energy is then reradiated back to the atmosphere as long wave infrared radiation. Little of this long wave radiation escapes back into space, while some of the radiation cannot pass through the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. But the greenhouse gases selectively transmit the infrared waves, trapping some and allowing some to pass through into space. The gases absorb these waves and re-emit them downward, causing the lower atmosphere to warm to about 33 degree Celsius. They stated that a total of 76 percent of Carbon dioxide, six percent of Nitrous oxide, 13 percent of Methane and five percent of Fluorocarbons were being pass down to the atmospheric due to increase in human activities.
On her part, the permanent secretary, ministry of transportation, Sayifat Muhammed, said although the world’s developing countries have contributed less than two percent of the polluting gases in the atmosphere, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted in its report- confirmed by the World Bank, that the overwhelming majority of those most threatened by climate change live in the poorest and developing countries of the world. Different regions, she said, would be affected differently by climate change, stressing that in Nigeria, the vulnerability would not only arise because of the impacts of climate change, but also to the impacts of response measures. Muhammed pointed out that apart from the fragile ecological zones in some parts of the country, Nigeria’s economy depends mostly on the earnings from fossil fuel production, consequently, any measure taken to cut down the use of fossil fuels would affect the economy and people negatively.
She stated that the International Maritime Organisation conference held in Malmo in June 2008, confirmed that much of the impact of climate change on the maritime industry, is likely to be felt most strongly in the polar regions and in particular, in the arctic, where a reduction in sea-ice seems to be its most significant consequence. In essence, if significant sea-level rise occurs due to the melting of polar ice, the effect on many harbours, ports and coastal zones around the world could be devastating as witnessed in Lagos Bar Beach, few years ago.
Responding, the director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temi Omatseye, said millions of people especially in developing countries including Nigeria, would be confined to perpetual poverty and precarious living conditions due to food and water shortages, coastal flooding and extreme changes in weather pattern as a result of global warming which are warning signal. The capacity to cope with climate variability and extreme weather events are highly dependent on the level of economic development, explaining that livelihood sources of the poor were usually narrower and more climate sensitive than those of the wealthy nations.
The director general of NIMASA stated that extreme weather events, which would cause limited damage and few casualties in a developed country, often cause extensive destruction and substantial loss of life in a developing country like Nigeria. In his submission, he maintained that climate change is real with devastating consequences including desertification and land degradation and therefore advised that Nigeria should build a strong partnership and collaboration in its efforts in combating the menace.
Therefore, the Agency being the focal point for the implementation of International Maritime Organisation programmes in Nigeria; should align its activities with that of the world maritime body. It is also expected to enter into collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) and Obafemi Awolowo University to establish climatic observations, which the leadership of the apex maritime body in Nigeria said it had already initiated.
On her part, the director, Marine Environment Management of the NIMASA, Juliana Gunwa, said Nigeria is making concerted efforts towards ratifying Annex VI of Maritime Pollution (MARPOL), which deals with air pollution, stressing that the Agency is also ensuring the elimination of vessels that are not seaworthy, citing example of the single hull tankers. She pointed out that climate change was already occurring. So, to tackle these problems, Gunwa called for adjustments and changes at every level, adoption of appropriate technologies while making the most of traditional knowledge. The director said if the flared gas in the Niger Delta is properly utilized, it would serve as sources of energy supply for Nigeria and to other West African countries. For the International Maritime Organisation, the marine expert said should maintain a leading position in developing GHG strategies and mechanisms for international shipping and cooperate closely with other relevant United Nation bodies to avoid unilateral action on a global, regional or national level. She explained that the world maritime body should set a measurable, verifiable and reportable emission reduction targeted at a considerable date to save the climate and humanity from its negative consequences.