Heatwaves Threaten Nigeria’s Food Security, Economy, Climatology Professor Warns

‎A Professor of Climatology at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof. Oyenike Eludoyin, has raised the alarm over the growing threat of heatwaves to Nigeria’s food security, public health and economy, urging governments at all levels to adopt innovative climate adaptation measures.

‎Eludoyin warned that the country must urgently invest in sustainable strategies to address rising temperatures and changing climate conditions, particularly their impact on agriculture, food production and the wellbeing of citizens.

‎She gave the warning while delivering the university’s 68th inaugural lecture titled: “The Human Element in the Climate Equation: Navigating Thermal Stress and Environmental Health in a Warming Nigeria.”

‎The professor described the increasing temperatures being experienced across the country as a “silent and invisible biological crisis,” stressing that urgent action was needed to avert its devastating consequences.

‎According to her, heatwaves are not evenly distributed across Nigeria, explaining that densely populated residential areas, commercial centres and heavily paved urban communities with little vegetation experience higher temperatures because of poor ventilation compared to surrounding rural and vegetated areas.

‎Eludoyin said the effects of extreme heat are already being felt across key sectors, particularly agriculture, where many farmers and farm labourers are unable to work during peak daytime temperatures, resulting in lower productivity, reduced incomes and growing concerns over food security.

‎She added that prolonged high night-time temperatures have contributed to sleepless nights and worsening public health challenges, while the increasing cost of artificial cooling systems is placing additional financial pressure on households and deepening climate-induced poverty.

‎She said, “Nigeria must move swiftly from a passive posture of Climate Victimhood to an active stance of Climatic Agency.

‎”The global climate is warming at a pace that severely outstrips our current infrastructural capacity. Concurrently, our local Nigerian environment is becoming more humid, less ventilated and progressively stressful to biological life,” she said.

‎The climate expert noted that although many farmers have adopted coping strategies such as cultivar selection, microclimate modification and other adaptive practices, severe heatwaves and flash floods continue to threaten agricultural production, especially among smallholder farmers.

‎To tackle the challenge, Eludoyin called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s agricultural policies, including the establishment of climate monitoring stations in all local government areas, sustained public enlightenment campaigns and subsidies for rural green technologies.

‎She also advocated the adoption of precision agriculture and proposed that regional universities should function as climate hubs by producing digital planting calendars and farm advisory services in indigenous languages.

‎Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, described the inaugural lecture series as one of the institution’s enduring academic traditions and commended Eludoyin for her contributions to climate research, saying her work demonstrates the university’s commitment to providing practical solutions to national development challenges.

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