Research
Implication of SD-PAMs in Nigeria
Sustainable Development Policies and Measures (SD-PAMs) have been identified as a possible means through which developing nations can contribute to the global climate change mitigation and adaptation effort. Nigeria being an oil producing nation derives up to 70% of her revenue from the petroleum industry but the gas sector has not be given the necessary attention until recently resulting to both economic and environmental lost via gas flaring or what is called fugitive gas. This natural gas being flared has the potential of putting to an end the epileptic electricity situation in the country, if well harnessed and managed. Nigeria ranks second in the World in terms of total volume of gas being flared, but according to World Bank 2007 report, there was a remarkable reduction of about 10 BCM of gas flaring in Nigeria between 1996 and 2005, about the same period that Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and some Independent Power Project that utilizes natural gas was commissioned. The NLNG has being a source of revenue for government and provides jobs for the teeming youth of the restive Niger- Delta area. Strong political in the form of sustainable development policies and measures will to put an end to gas flaring and well structure national gas master plan that focus on meeting local demand is still required for optimum economic and environmental gains to be achieved.
The Effects and Linkages of Deforestation and Temperature on Climate Change in Nigeria
Deforestation has a negative impact on the immediate environment and on the global scale, climate change. This paper is aimed at assessing the effect of deforestation to temperature and invariably on climate change in Nigeria. It discussed the rates of deforestation in Nigeria and globally; climate change in Nigeria; impact of extreme weather events in Nigeria; the effect of deforestation with respect to temperature change; the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to deforestation in Nigeria; the obvious relationship between deforestation, temperature and climate change; and the mitigate measures to deforestation nationally and globally. The research considered an extended Eighty years period for this work because it capture the period when climate change signals were not an issue (1901-1938) and when they are stronger (1971-2012).
Global Climatic Change in Nigeria: A Reality or Mirage
Emphasis on climate change studies have been more on global whereas the effects are mainly at regional and national levels. It is on this premise that this study investigated the effect on climate change and global warming from the Nigerian perspective. Climatic data (Mean annual and monthly rainfall and temperature) from 30 synoptic stations, for 80 years were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Lagos, between 1901-1938 and 1971-2012. Secondary data from different sources were also collected. These were analysed using time series, correlation and percentages among other statistical tools. The result shows that while temperature at inverse relationship in Nigeria i.e. temperature is increasing, the rainfall is decreasing. While global temperature for the past 100 years is 0.72-0.74 OC that of Nigeria between the two climatic periods under study is 1.80 OC. Major spatial shifts were observed for example, southward shift in the divide between the double rainfall peak and single rainfall peak, and temporal shift in short-dry-season from August to July in Southern Nigeria. The result also shows that although rainfall is generally decreasing in Nigeria, recently, the coastal region is experiencing slightly increasing rainfall. The current available pieces of evidence show that Nigeria, like most parts of the world, is experiencing not only regional warming but also the basic features of climate change. To reverse the trend, sustainable developmental policies and measures were recommended.
