UNICEF Warns of Climate Change Risks Facing Nigerian Children

Nigeria is one of the riskiest countries for children facing climate threats, yet remains poorly prepared, according to a new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The report, titled “The Nigerian Child 2025,” highlights that gaps in infrastructure, policy, and emergency response leave children dangerously exposed when disasters occur.

Nigeria faces increasing climate-related challenges, including floods, droughts, desertification, and extreme heat. These environmental pressures disproportionately affect children, who are among the most vulnerable populations.

“Systemic gaps in infrastructure, policy, and emergency response leave children exposed when disasters strike. Family incomes collapse under these pressures, and children pay the price through malnutrition, missed schooling, and illness. Air pollution adds another danger, with Nigeria recording the world’s highest rate of pneumonia deaths from pollution among children under five,” the report said.

The study further notes that poor access to clean water and sanitation worsens the impact. Millions of families rely on contaminated water sources, exposing children to diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera, particularly in rural and low-income communities. Open defecation remains common, making basic hygiene nearly impossible.

Children from low-income families are especially affected, often living in areas hardest hit by climate change while having the fewest resources to cope. Water shortages or crop failures lead to hunger, school absenteeism, and illness. Girls are particularly impacted, spending long hours fetching water or caring for siblings, often at the expense of their education and well-being.

The report also highlights that schools and health facilities often lack basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Without clean water, safe toilets, or handwashing stations, children face challenges in staying healthy and attending school regularly. Girls face additional difficulties managing their menstrual health, and health centres struggle to provide proper care, leaving communities underserved.