Jeremy Durowaiye had never been to any northern state before—apart from Nasarawa, which he visited once in his life—but in 2019, when he arrived at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Wamakko, Sokoto State, he found it unbearable due to the excessive heat.
Born and raised in Kogi State, Durowaiye was visiting Sokoto for the first time for his one-year mandatory national service after graduating from a higher institution in March 2019. For him, everything about Sokoto was extreme—both in heat and cold.
“I can vividly remember when we arrived at the camp in Wamakko. I suffered a lot, to the extent that I had heat burns on my neck. That was the first time I experienced such hot weather,” Durowaiye recalled. Gradually, he began to adapt to the harsh climate and continued seeking ways to relieve himself as the heat kept intensifying due to climate change.
To manage the extreme heat and protect his health, Durowaiye resorted to using less Vaseline, wearing white, lightweight clothes, sleeping with windows open, and sometimes even sleeping outside. “One funny thing about this Sokoto heat is, even if you put on the fan, it blows hot air. But the interesting thing is, you can go outside for fresh air and no mosquitoes will disturb you,” he recounted.
He expressed concern that this year could be hotter than the last, noting, “I’m afraid this year will be hotter than last year. We’re just in April—not even May or June when we usually expect rain—and still no sign of rainfall.” Despite the harsh weather, Durowaiye has remained in Sokoto for six years. Apart from the weather, he says Sokoto has been good to him, and he is determined to endure and stay.
Another Sokoto resident, Ibrahim Shagali, originally from Sabon Birnin Gobir in Sokoto State but now living in the metropolis for over a decade, shared how they cope with extreme heat both inside and outside their homes.
According to Shagali, during fasting periods—typically between March and June—when the heat becomes unbearable, people pour cold water on their heads for relief. He explained that when the heat is overwhelming during the day, he often goes outside to sit under trees for fresh air, while women have no choice but to stay indoors and manage the situation.
“Sometimes, due to the extreme heat, children cry at home without knowing what’s bothering them. Last night, my baby girl couldn’t sleep. She was crying, and we didn’t know what was wrong—until we realized it was the heat. We eventually had to go out to the courtyard to cool off,” he narrated.
He further stressed, “The main concern is that there’s no stable electricity. And even when there is power, the fan blows hot air.”
Sokoto State, located in Nigeria’s northwest, is one of the hottest in the country and continues to battle with scorching temperatures, often exceeding 43°C. As of April 2025, Climate Data reported the average temperature at 40.7°C.
Effects of heat on public health
Dr. Rilwanu Bello Tambuwal from the Department of Community Medicine/Public Health at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, warned that the harsh weather has serious consequences on public health. These include heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions like hypertension, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as reduced productivity and mental fatigue due to heat-related stress.
He advised people to stay hydrated by drinking clean water regularly—even when not thirsty. He also recommended avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest hours (typically between 12 noon and 5 p.m.), wearing light, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, and checking regularly on vulnerable individuals such as the elderly. Those who work outdoors or are fasting should also rest more frequently.
Dr. Bello further outlined safety tips for extreme heat: “People should use fans or stay in shaded and ventilated areas, take cool showers or bathe more often—even without soap, avoid caffeinated and sugary drinks, use sunshades, hats, and umbrellas when going out, and never leave children or elderly people in parked vehicles, even for a short time.”
Causes of the extreme heat
According to environmentalist Dr. Lawal Yakubu Gada, Executive Director of the African Foundation for Environment and Climate Change (a non-governmental organization), the causes of extreme weather are numerous—some natural, but most man-made.
He explained that Sokoto and Maiduguri are situated in semi-arid zones, where temperatures can reach between 45°C and 47°C. These regions receive little rainfall and are close to the Sahara Desert, making it difficult for vegetation to survive.
On the human side, Dr. Yakubu identified key contributors to rising temperatures and global warming, including industrial emissions, illegal tree felling, widespread use of generators, fossil fuel combustion, and modern housing designs that trap heat.
“Industries like rice mills, generators, cars, tricycles, and motorcycles all emit smoke and carbon monoxide, which contribute to the hot weather. People are also cutting down trees without replacing them, which worsens the situation,” Dr. Yakubu stated.
The way forward
To address the crisis, he recommended that communities launch massive tree-planting campaigns and embrace renewable energy solutions for industries, transportation, and homes. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt electric vehicles and modern climate-friendly practices.
He also lamented the lack of enforcement in protecting previous efforts, citing the example of trees planted by former President Ibrahim Babangida in 1988 in Bissalam village, Dange-Shuni (along Gusau Road), which were later cut down for firewood.
He concluded by urging the government to involve experts in designing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region.
