Written by Angel James

The exhilarating thing about the Nigerian identity is our ability to seek a joke in the midst of the storm. It’s the zeal our brothers and sisters find which is indirectly aimed at mitigating a problem. As pacifying as giggling at odd hours might be, it in fact ends with this simple act. Out of the societal issues that ought to be addressed, the Nigerian ecosystem is of great severity, and this is because the silence is rather loud.

I recently watched Áfàméfùnà for the third time but this last watch required me to do so meticulously because I had to analyze it for an exam. A scene struck my attention. If you’ve seen the film, you might remember when Odogwu told his niece who had just returned to Nigeria — lamenting about the weather — that “heat doesn’t kill over here.” While that might seem like a hint at a harmless joke, there’s the very subtle belief that the ecosystem in Nigeria, as degrading as is, holds little to no weight to raise a concern to the majority. So much so that this belief has seeped into our attempts at art such as films, whose main purpose is to mirror society.

Nigeria recorded a striking rate in the heatwave in February. Outcries from citizens on social media caused many to wonder if truly we were on earth or in purgatory. The temperature in West Africa rose to an enormous height, such that it was tagged “dangerous.” The humid temperature was above 40°C. Coupled with that, the electricity and petroleum crisis in Nigeria were enough to seek answers regarding the purgatory affiliations. The country was in a red zone through and through.

The discourse of climate change in Nigeria has been said to be caused by human-infused changes that have plagued the nation for years. Deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, and dumping, are typical activities in the Nigerian society, especially in less urbanized areas. Stakeholders have equally played a part in climate change, from the illegal mining, lack of proper education, and inadequate communication strategies that lay emphasis on this issue. To reiterate, one may find a few media specializations expressly for the environment, yet the noise isn’t as loud as other niche areas. The media that cover this issue are of a 1% and the problem either lies in their reportage or the focus being shifted completely.

Contrary to what Odogwu thinks, the heat wave and climate in Nigeria has a dangerous effect on the livelihoods of people, animals, and even farmlands. Records show that doctors in Nigeria had stated the influx of patients in hospitals due to the heatwave of February. To top that off, the clog of dust prompts health issues such as Meningitis that have long-lasting effects if not managed as it ought to be. The stress levels of residents are high just as the lack of concentration. Also, the productivity level of both animals and plants reduces and by extension, that affects sales and consumption. This hounds on the full-circle effect of climate change, especially the heatwave as highlighted by sources.

The climate change discourses are not given a much attention that would pique interests. The ability to reinforce messages is possible; it’s been witnessed in the efforts of the entertainment and tech industries in Nigeria. The intentionality should be channeled towards concerns of the environment too. The fact that climate change is setting off as normal with the majority being comfortable with the unsettling changes is enough reason to do more — in terms of awareness, leveraging communication strategists, and simply speaking every single day that it’s able to prompt a message recall in psyche of the people.