THEMATIC REPORT( EXTREME WEATHER IN NIGERIA)by EmmanuelE Okon | 17-09-2022 16:46 |
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 In the recent years, Nigeria population has increased with many urbanization inclusive the growth. Reserved zones have been migrated to by various individuals leading to high effect on the environment. The extreme weather condition i experienced that made me know there has been a vast effect on the environment could be narrowed back to the late December harmattan season where every where get cool and you could hardly take your bathe. Aas growing child in those years remembering how i had to wears thick sweaters and hoodies to get rid of the cold. In most recent years especially December 2021, I could remember vividly looking for where to fix my standing fan to support the ceiling fan in region that was formally surrounded by rivers and streams which made the environment cool from the cold breeze from the river. In the harmattan season the environment is expect to be cold but now is a high increase in temperature has the areas are now used for industries and houses. To solve the problem of this increase in temperature a new structure of urbanization should cut across the state country has a whole and not within a particular area. Rural to urban development should therefore be looked into area who have the available space and resources that will not cost vast effect on the country weather condition. Another extreme weather condition is drought this is really affecting the growth of crops and reduces agricultural production in Northern part of Nigeria has the is caused by the drying up of lakes and rivers. Possible solutions to this is diverting of waters from flooded region to dry regions which can serve as resources..... In Northern Nigeria, there are several records of drought occurrences which resulted in famines, such as the droughts of 1903 and 1911–1914 (Shiru et al. 2018). Other droughts occurred in 1919, 1924, 1935 (Tarhule and Woo 1997), 1951–1954, 1972–1973, 1984–1985 (Mortimore 1989), 2007 and 2011 (Abaje et al. 2013). Consequently, the situation is being exacerbated by the increasing human population, overgrazing, over-cultivation, and high poverty rate (Eze 2017). The predominant economic activity in the region is farming. Moreover, the region is known for its grain products such as maize, millet, sorghum, and wheat (Eze 2017). Agricultural production in Nigeria particularly in Northern Nigeria is mainly rain-fed and naturally prone to vagaries of rainfall variability (Tiamiyu et al. 2015). During the years of abundant rainfall, households in the region experience bumper harvest from both crop and livestock productions. Conversely, during the years with rainfall deficit, the households experience crop failure, poor crop yield, leading to famine, hunger, and death, including livestock. Khalil (1974) shows that about 300, 000 livestock died during the drought that occurred in the year 1972 to 1973. The number of livestock that died during this period represents about 13% of the total livestock population in the north-eastern part of Nigeria . Moreover, in the year 2021 towards the end of the growing season, huge crop losses to drought were recorded in many parts of northern Nigeria, particularly, in the Sahel region. The negative impacts of drought on Nigeria with a great survey has really caused the increase in national insecurity which was due to the overgrazing of cattles on farmers leading to clashes.... |
