FIGHTING THE CLIMATE MONSTER IN NIGERIA: A BATTLE FOR ALL

Abstract

Climate change as a global phenomenon affects everyone globally, both rich and poor stand to lose. Experts say Nigeria is greatly al risk of climate change because of its over 800km coastline, one ofthe continents longest. A sea level rise of over 0.2m, resulting from climate change, can generate floods over 3.400 square kilometer ofthe coastline (Ekot. 2009 quotedin Eze & Oche, 2010). People who are already affected by poverty, malnutrition and diseases will continue to face the problem of displacement from either floods, climate change related conflicts, desertification, drought, and new hardship. All sectors of socio-economic development, including the natural ecosystems will continue to be destroyed as a result affecting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially those related to elimination of poverty and hunger andpromoting environmental sustainability -. The aim ofthis paper is to examine the challenge climate change poses, its impact on the population and the need for urgent and collective solutions. To achieve that, the paper generated data mainly through the secondary¬ source which includes: printed and recorded material, published information (books, journal articles, government publications, statistical records, newspapers, magazines; conference proceedings, annual report' and archival data) and electronic sources (online databases, the internet. arid CD-ROMs). The paper argued that climate change is a reality and there is alarming evidence that human activities are the main culprits of global warming and unless a collective action is taken globally to fight this monster called climate change, human societies may- collapse in the face of uncertainty. Therefore the paper recommended immediate and radical response from Government and individuals in order to avoid negative health consequencesfor present and future generations