FACILITY FOCUS
Kenny Akintola
Nigerians are already battling NEPA, gas costs, meals costs and landlords who consider hire ought to enhance each time you sneeze. Now, the climate might have one other shock for us. Please, what precisely have we finished?
Meet El Niño, a local weather phenomenon making headlines round the world. Scientists are warning that the 2026–2027 occasion might develop 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 develop into unusually heat, influencing climate patterns round the world. A powerful occasion can have an effect on temperatures and rainfall, rising the threat of drought in some locations and different climate extremes elsewhere. However, Nigeria’s actual expertise stays unsure, so there isn’t a want to panic simply but.
So, what might this imply for Nigerians?
First, warmth. Imagine Lagos site visitors at 2 p.m., no breeze, your AC struggling like a civil servant ready for promotion, and gas costs taking a look at you with wickedness. Higher temperatures might make life much more uncomfortable, particularly for outside staff, the aged and susceptible folks.
Then comes meals. If rainfall turns into unfavourable in farming areas, crops might undergo, livestock might battle for water, and meals provides might come underneath strain. In Nigeria, the place meals costs already run sooner than Usain Bolt, that is no laughing matter.
Water and electrical energy might additionally come underneath strain. Hotter climate can enhance water demand, whereas unreliable energy provide makes holding properties, places of work and important tools cool much more tough.
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 test on aged kinfolk and susceptible neighbours. Farmers ought to comply with native climate advisories and contemplate 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 techniques, service pumps and backup energy tools, and put together for doable heat-related tools failures.
Above all, comply with credible updates from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Not each alarming WhatsApp voice notice 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 develop into a desert in a single day.
Climate science is critical enterprise; fearmongering is just not preparedness.
Can we belief our authorities to act?
My reply is easy: we should 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 techniques, defend susceptible communities and coordinate emergency responses.
Local governments shouldn’t wait till floodwater enters folks’s bedrooms earlier than remembering that drainage exists. Governments shouldn’t look ahead to farmers to lose their harvest earlier than discussing meals safety. Emergency businesses shouldn’t start in search of tools when the emergency has already arrived.
Can our authorities do that? Absolutely. Will it accomplish that successfully? That depends upon planning, funding, coordination and accountability not press conferences alone.
There remains to be room for hope.
A powerful El Niño doesn’t routinely imply catastrophe for Nigeria. Its results fluctuate by area and season, and early preparation can scale back losses, defend livelihoods and get monetary savings.
For people, preparation means staying knowledgeable and making smart 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 will not be in a position to inform the solar to scale back its working hours, however we will put together our properties, 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 protected.
*Kenny Akintola, Chief facility officer
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