Nigeria: environment

Is Nigeria getting warmer?

Nine of the ten years from 2016 to 2025 were among the 12 warmest on record in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency's State of the Climate in Nigeria 2025 report. The report also records the 2025 floods, which hit Mokwa in Niger State hardest.

The State of the Climate report is published each year by NiMet using observations from its weather stations. It covers temperature, rainfall, extreme events and their effects. Rankings of warm years depend on the length of the station record, and year-to-year differences are often small.

Official sources: NiMet: State of the Climate in Nigeria

What is the 2026 rainy season forecast for Nigeria?

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency's 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, presented on 10 February 2026, warned of variable rainfall, prolonged dry spells, a severe "August break" and warmer than usual temperatures. It predicted an early onset of rains in states including Bayelsa and Rivers and a late onset in Borno.

The prediction gives expected onset and end dates of the rainy season and its length for each state, and is used by farmers to plan planting. It is a forecast of probabilities, not a guarantee. Flood risk is forecast separately in the Annual Flood Outlook from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.

Official sources: NiMet: 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction

What fuel do Nigerians cook with?

70.2% of Nigerian households used wood as their main cooking fuel in 2023/24, and 23.2% used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), according to the NBS General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5. The share using kerosene fell by 18.4 percentage points over the five years since the previous wave.

Cooking with wood and other solid fuels produces smoke that harms health, especially for women and children, and contributes to deforestation. Use of wood is higher in rural areas, while LPG is more common in cities. The survey follows the same households over time, so it can track changes in fuel use.

Official sources: NBS: General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5, 2023/24

How much electricity is supplied in Nigeria?

Nigeria's electricity distribution companies supplied 6,627.56 gigawatt hours in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 7.62% on the previous quarter and 6.76% on a year earlier, according to the NBS Electricity Report, released in May 2026. They had 12.16 million customers, of whom 6.97 million were metered, and collected ₦630.93 billion in revenue.

Customer numbers fell 8.52% over the year, which can reflect changes in how accounts are recorded as well as disconnections. Unmetered customers are billed estimated amounts. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission publishes more detail on each distribution company.

Official sources: NBS: Electricity Report Q4 2025

How often does the power go off in Nigeria?

Nigerian households with an electricity connection reported an average of 6.7 blackouts a week in 2023/24, according to the NBS General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5. 82.2% of urban households and 40.4% of rural households had access to electricity.

The survey asks households how many times the power went off in the previous week, so the figure is self-reported and varies by area and season. Frequent outages lead many homes and businesses to run petrol or diesel generators, which adds to fuel costs and emissions. Grid supply data are published each quarter by the NBS and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Official sources: NBS: General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5, 2023/24

What is Nigeria's carbon footprint per person?

0.6 tonnes: that is carbon dioxide emissions per person in Nigeria for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 0.7 tonnes; its low point was 2009, at 0.5 tonnes. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.4 tonnes; Nigeria is 18th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 146th of 186.

What are Nigeria's total greenhouse gas emissions?

According to the European Commission's EDGAR database, total greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria was 351 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024. The peak was 360 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2019 and the low 287 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2009. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Nigeria placed 2nd highest of 47. Worldwide: 26th of 186.

How much of Nigeria's energy is renewable?

According to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, the renewable share of final energy use in Nigeria was 80.3% in 2021. Since 2005 it has ranged from 79.9% (2014) to 88.1% (2009). It is 14th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 71.1%. World rank, highest first: 16th of 191.

What share of Nigeria is covered by forest?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2024, is 18.9%. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 29th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 22.2%. Worldwide: 122nd of 190.

What is PM2.5 air pollution in Nigeria?

65.7 micrograms per cubic metre: that is average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Nigeria for 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. The peak was 75.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2015 and the low 52.2 micrograms per cubic metre in 2013. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre; Nigeria is 1st highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 4th of 192.

How much of Nigeria's land is protected?

In 2025, the share of land in protected areas in Nigeria was 13.9%, according to the UN Environment Programme. The figure has been the same every year since 2013. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 16.9%, and Nigeria placed 31st highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 125th of 192.

How much of Nigeria's fresh water is used?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2022, is 9.7%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.1%, and Nigeria placed 19th highest of 47. Of 175 countries with 2022 data, 91st highest.