A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF has revealed that Nigeria ranks among the riskiest countries for children exposed to climate threats, yet it remains one of the least prepared.
Titled “The Nigerian Child 2025,” the report highlights significant gaps in infrastructure, policy, and emergency response that leave children dangerously vulnerable when disasters strike. The report says Nigeria faces increasing climate-related risks, including floods, droughts, desertification, and extreme heat, which disproportionately affect the nation’s youngest and most at-risk populations.
UNICEF also noted that poor access to clean water and sanitation compounds these challenges as millions of families rely on contaminated water, heightening the risk of diarrhoea, cholera, and other deadly diseases, particularly among children in rural and low-income communities. Open defecation remains widespread, making basic hygiene nearly impossible.
The report emphasized that immediate action is needed to strengthen infrastructure, implement effective policies, and provide targeted support that can help safeguard Nigeria’s children and ensure that they are better protected against the mounting impacts of climate change.
