The report titled: “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Nigeria”, revealed that children account for 51 percent of report 3 million people in Nigeria and are disproportionately affected by climate change, always the first percent severely impacted by climate shocks due to their dependence on others.
It also indicates that not less than 113,730,000 Nigerian children, representing 51 percent of the 223 million people in Nigeria, are largely affected by climate change, a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The report also highlighted key climate risks to children and gave an overview of the multi-sectorial climate mitigation and adaptation actions that UNICEF intends to implement in Nigeria from 2023–2027.
Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, said, “As one of the countries that suffers the greatest exposure to adverse climate impacts, Nigeria’s response to climate change must be swift and holistic, accounting for the needs of vulnerable people, including children and women, at the decision-making level, as well as in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan.”
The Lagos field office, UNICEF, Celine Lafoucriere, noted that, children are non-self-sufficient and unable to make their own decisions, adding that, ” they are more susceptible to disease and malnutrition “.
“Children are more exposed to diseases, especially during flooding. When the combination of drought, flooding, desertification, poverty and sociocultural factors are added put together, which are all increasing and often lead to migration, conflict and displacement, children’s safety and access to water, health, education, food security and well-being are severely impeded,” she lamented.
She urged to come on board on to tackle climate related issues, to make the environment safe for children to thrive.

UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate says, “This celebration is a crucial platform for our children, the most affected by climate change, to voice their concerns and experiences. Their input is essential in shaping our collective path towards a sustainable and resilient future”.
On the correlation between environment and children, the Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende explained that the Lagos state government was doing a lot in making the environment conducive pointing out that, ” the present administration is committed to supporting initiatives that promotes wellbeing of children in the state “.
Under the Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; (T.H.E.M.E.S plus), agenda of the state government, Ogunlende said the state government is prioritizing the environment to make it cleaner, green, and safer for all children.
” The state government is planning to bring back environmental sanitation initiative, where residents are expected to thoroughly clean their environment at least, once a week while advocating collective efforts to tackle climate-related issues “. Ogunlende.