The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has faulted the Nigerian Lightning Safety and Research Centre (NLSRC), a non-governmental organisation proferring an unauthorised thunderstorm alert. The NLSRC claimed that thunderstorms would occur in Nigeria throughout May, with RED state areas at higher risk of serious lightning strikes and flooding, urging citizens to prepare for possible fatalities and fire outbreaks. The NLSRC’s warnings brought to attention the issue of climate anxiety.
Climate anxiety refers to the psychological discomfort caused by the knowledge and experience of environmental degradation and the associated risks. It ranges from mild stress to clinical disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even suicide. Alarmist or unverified extreme weather reports heighten climate anxiety for some, rendering them incapable of processing this information in a healthy way.
The implications of this are profound in Nigeria, with climate change affecting the mental health of many citizens as environmental devastation increases mortality rates and injuries resulting from natural disasters and extreme weather events. T. O. Ogunbode, P. O. Ogungbile, D. Odekunle and J. T. Asifat’s research shows that mental health and psychosocial well-being can be troubled both directly, such as through life experiences related to natural disasters, and indirectly, through exposure to climate change news.
NiMet’s caution indicates the need for a centralised voice for climate information in Nigeria to combat miss-information and propaganda on social media, where facts during crises can be easily controverted. As such, NiMet is mandated to collect, process and disseminate all meteorological data and information to the Nigerian public and prescribed to issue weather warnings required for all sectoral activities in Nigeria.
Recent studies show that the earth’s climate, which is dependent on solar insolation, is directly linked to lightning distribution. Climate model studies suggest that global warming could lead to less thunderstorms overall but more intense thunderstorms, which, over time, may increase lightning by 10% for every one-degree global warming.
In response to the NLSRC’s timely clarification, NiMet should continue to consolidate its role in bringing a halt to disconcerting reports resulting in undue climate anxiety among citizens. NiMet should apply new strategies and engage with more stakeholders in the public and private sectors to ensure that the right information is properly disseminated and communicated effectively to the public.
Even as governments, the media, and civil societies worldwide are talking about the climate crisis, the implications of climate anxiety in Nigeria are under-reported, yet significant. To ensure a healthy and well-informed citizenry, there is the need for an insightful and precise reporting of climate indications by the media. This is why it is essential that organisations such as NiMet remain proactive in demanding timely and accurate information delivery from different sources.
