FACILITY FOCUS
Kenny Akintola
Nigerians are already battling NEPA, gasoline costs, meals costs and landlords who imagine lease ought to enhance each time you sneeze. Now, the climate could have one other shock for us. Please, what precisely have we achieved?
Meet El Niño, a local weather phenomenon making headlines round the world. Scientists are warning that the 2026–2027 occasion might turn into exceptionally sturdy. Before anyone begins shopping for mills to energy their standing followers, allow us to perceive what this might imply for Nigeria.
El Niño happens when elements of the Pacific Ocean turn into unusually heat, influencing climate patterns round the world. A powerful occasion can have an effect on temperatures and rainfall, growing the danger of drought in some locations and different climate extremes elsewhere. However, Nigeria’s actual expertise stays unsure, so there isn’t any want to panic simply but.
So, what might this imply for Nigerians?
First, warmth. Imagine Lagos visitors at 2 p.m., no breeze, your AC struggling like a civil servant ready for promotion, and gasoline costs you with wickedness. Higher temperatures might make life much more uncomfortable, particularly for outside staff, the aged and susceptible individuals.
Then comes meals. If rainfall turns into unfavourable in farming areas, crops might endure, livestock could wrestle for water, and meals provides might come underneath stress. In Nigeria, the place meals costs already run quicker than Usain Bolt, that is no laughing matter.
Water and electrical energy might additionally come underneath stress. Hotter climate can enhance water demand, whereas unreliable energy provide makes protecting houses, workplaces and important gear cool much more troublesome.
For these of us in facility administration, it is a reminder that water storage, drainage, generator upkeep, air flow and power effectivity will not be merely objects on a guidelines. They are important to enterprise continuity.
What ought to we do and what ought to we keep away from?
Let us begin with the fundamentals. Drink sufficient water, keep away from extended publicity to intense warmth and verify on aged kin and susceptible neighbours. Farmers ought to comply with native climate advisories and take into account appropriate drought-tolerant crops and water-saving strategies.
Households ought to repair leaking faucets, retailer water safely and clear drainage channels earlier than heavy rainfall. Businesses and estates ought to examine roofs and drainage methods, service pumps and backup energy gear, and put together for potential heat-related gear failures.
Above all, comply with credible updates from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Not each alarming WhatsApp voice be aware deserves to be handled like a presidential broadcast.
And what ought to we keep away from? Panic shopping for meals and water till the sitting room turns into a warehouse. Wasting water. Ignoring climate warnings. Or forwarding messages claiming Nigeria will turn into a desert in a single day.
Climate science is severe enterprise; fearmongering isn’t preparedness.
Can we belief our authorities to act?
My reply is easy: we must always demand that it does.
Nigeria already has a meteorological company. The actual check is whether or not its forecasts will translate into sensible motion. Federal and state governments should present well timed climate warnings, assist farmers with helpful local weather info, put together drainage methods, shield susceptible communities and coordinate emergency responses.
Local governments mustn’t wait till floodwater enters individuals’s bedrooms earlier than remembering that drainage exists. Governments mustn’t watch for farmers to lose their harvest earlier than discussing meals safety. Emergency companies mustn’t start on the lookout for gear when the emergency has already arrived.
Can our authorities do that? Absolutely. Will it achieve this successfully? That is dependent upon planning, funding, coordination and accountability not press conferences alone.
There continues to be room for hope.
A powerful El Niño doesn’t mechanically imply catastrophe for Nigeria. Its results range by area and season, and early preparation can cut back losses, shield livelihoods and lower your expenses.
For people, preparation means staying knowledgeable and making wise changes. For companies, it means planning forward. For authorities, it means appearing on scientific warnings earlier than a disaster turns into a nationwide dialog.
Nigeria has sufficient challenges with out inviting avoidable ones.
We might not be ready to inform the solar to cut back its working hours, however we will put together our houses, companies and communities for no matter the climate brings.
Because on this nation, we have already got sufficient scorching conditions. We don’t want the climate including one other one.
Till subsequent time, keep hydrated and keep secure.
*Kenny Akintola, Chief facility officer
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