Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria, with a population of about 14.6 million people, was classified as a Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) of 43, the highest compared to all other regional administrative units. Consequently, due to the high level of vulnerability to heat, it should serve as a necessity for Nigeria as a developing country to address heat and its impacts in the current and future urban development programs.
It is estimated by the National Population Commission that about 60.6% of Nigeria’s population has “some form of air cooling,” and the most common way of cooling down during a hot day for most Nigerians is wearing light clothes. Heat stroke kills an estimated 78,000 people every year globally, and more than 80% of those deaths occur due to heat in Africa. This is rather alarming when we realize that the problem of heat is only set to intensify and become more frequent as a consequence of climate change.
1.1. Understanding the heat in Nigeria
Nigeria lies in the tropics and runs from about 6°N to 14°N – mostly within the inter-tropic zone. Also, Nigeria is located on the Gulf of Guinea, which gives the southern part of the country a coastal climate. This means that from November to April, the country experiences the “Harmattan”, which is a dry, warm wind that blows from the Sahara Desert. During this period, the temperature varies from 30°C to 40°C and sometimes goes up to 45°C, except on the coastline where the temperature is a little bit lower. At this time of the year, the humidity is extremely low, but it is only in the northern part of Nigeria that the heat becomes excessive. On the other hand, at the coastal line, as well as going up to the central region, the heat might be less intense and people may feel more comfortable. Also, Nigeria gets the highest daily sunshine at about 6 hours. Once in a while, it does happen that the rainy season starts as late as the end of June but lasts until November. This means that there is a short rainy period from September to November, and then from March to June when Nigeria alone sees a lot more rain. But the average temperature is about 27-30°C with differences between day and night, and also between rainy and dry seasons can be felt. The highest humidity, on the other hand, is along the coastal areas, and especially during the rainy season. And it is this humidity that makes it hard for people to lose body heat by evaporative cooling. On the contrary, the dry conditions during the “Harmattan” will challenge those who suffer from skin complaints. On the whole, it is important to understand the climatic conditions of the country so that we can know how to protect ourselves from the heat.
1.2. Impact of heat on daily life
These extra overheads, in providing more rest periods and drinks, would severely affect the budget and smooth operating of these companies. A study has shown that about 66% of the workers working on highways need to spend time every period of the day coping with traffic. This need for additional attention in traffic has also caused an increase in the number of accidents which were heat-related. So, road safety in extreme weathers is also an issue.
In a hot day, people tend to spend less time doing outdoor activities and they are concentrated more on reducing their body temperature. This means that time, which could be used productively in the morning or afternoon, is shifted to evening due to the cold weather condition. The mornings, which is invariably the best part of the day, is not used at all. For the children, they are either sent to bed early or delayed in going to school until the outside temperature becomes more bearable. In addition, they spend about 30% of their night period sleeping trying to adjust to the temperature. For the adults, the quality of the night period is equally affected. They find it difficult to sleep comfortably during the night, and as a result, their efficiency and mood the following day is affected. Business activities are also slowed down in the daytime as people cannot cope with the heat and humidity outside the houses and offices. It is reported that some people, especially those above 60 years, tend to stay all day indoors, only coming outside in the late afternoon when the temperature begins to decrease. Also, schools have regulated the time the children spend during break periods in the sun in order to prevent heat-related health problems. Workers required for outdoor work are now provided with a specific period of rest and compulsory drinks, two things which are not common in these fields of work.
1.3. Importance of adapting to the heat
It is also important to drink fluids and not to drink things like caffeine, tea or alcohol. This is because these drinks can actually dehydrate the body and so it should be replaced with water. Signs of dehydration to look out for include thirst, darker urine, dry skin and fatigue, as well as some more serious symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness or no urine output. By being aware of the impacts of heat and knowing how to adapt, people can continue to live normal and healthy lives despite the challenging weather.
By adapting to the hot climates in Nigeria, it can help to build resilience to the heat and lessen the day-to-day health challenges. A simple but effective way of doing this is to change daily routine to avoid the hottest times of the day, which is generally between around 11 am to 3 pm. This could mean getting up earlier and having a siesta during the hottest part of the day. Try not to engage in too much physical activity during the heat of the day, save it for cooler times. Also, try to wear appropriate clothing; natural lightweight materials such as cotton are better as they soak up the sweat and it will evaporate to cool the body. Dark colors are not advisable in the day as they absorb the heat from the sun.
Adapting to heat is important in Nigeria. The human body has a very efficient way of regulating body temperature through sweating. When the body gets too hot, the sweat glands produce sweat to cool the body down, and this results in a loss of body fluids. In the same way, when the body gets too cold, blood vessels in the skin constrict to reduce the blood flow near the body’s surface. This process helps to conserve heat and raise the body temperature. However, it is not practical or healthy to rely on the body’s natural cooling systems all day, every day.
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