By Peace Musa
As the world braces for an intensifying Super El Niño climate event expected to peak in December, Lagos residents are facing difficulties coping with the heat amid unreliable electricity and water supplies.
For Sarah, a Lagos mother of two, the heat is affecting her youngest child, who she says has developed skin rashes.
“My last child has started suffering from heat rashes that are turning to boils. Light is scarce and water is scarce. I don’t know how we will survive this heat,” she said.
Recent reports citing the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) indicate that temperatures in Lagos have reached 34 degrees Celsius.
In an October 26 update, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that the ongoing El Niño event could reach unprecedented strength, disrupting temperature and rainfall patterns across the world.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterised by unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
Exceptionally intense events are commonly described as Super El Niño.
Meanwhile, the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab has projected approximately 56,000 additional heat-related deaths in Nigeria between October 2026 and March 2027, the highest projected national toll in its latest assessment.
The figure, which represents a projection rather than recorded deaths, highlights the potential risks of extreme heat, particularly in communities with limited access to reliable electricity, water and healthcare.
In a post on X, Lasisi Adedoyin, a Deputy Director at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, emphasised the need for public awareness and responsible environmental management to strengthen Lagos’s resilience to climate-related challenges.
“A climate-resilient Lagos begins with informed citizens, responsible governance and a commitment to protecting our environment,” he wrote.
Residents are advised to drink water regularly, limit prolonged exposure to excessive heat and follow weather forecasts and official warnings issued by NiMet.
