Maldives Experience: Nigeria Can Turn Extreme Weather into Prosperity with Good Governance

The conversion of Maldives extreme weather experience into economic prosperity is possible in Nigeria if the country fix governance, transparency and accountability.

Three things are implicated and prioritized in building good resistance and resilience against extreme weather, climate change and planetary restorations : accountability, transparency and good governance.

However, Nigeria’s limited adaptive capacity, driven by economic, institutional, and infrastructure challenges, leaves the country highly exposed to these climate hazards.

Let look at climate actions across vulnerable countries like the Maldives, the sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea starting with Maldives where extreme weather threats has been transformed into building good governance, transparency and accountability.

In the Maldives, Climate change poses an existential threat with 80% of its islands sitting less than one meter above sea level, risking total submersion by 2100 due to sea-level rises of up to 0.9 meters.

Key impacts include severe coastal erosion, flooding, destruction of coral reefs, depletion of freshwater aquifers, and threats to tourism and fishing, which are critical to the nation’s economy.

The efforts of the government is creating progress and prosperity in recreational communities and attracting over 2m tourists annually is turning adversity into prosperity.

In corollary, Nigeria sits in the 2 most promising economic areas in the world: the Gulf of Guinea and the sahel region. How does Nigeria create economic growth and prosperity from the crisis in this region starting with the Gulf of Guinea.

Climate change in the Gulf of Guinea drives severe sea-level rise (~3.89 mm/yr), causing intense coastal erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion that destroy infrastructure and ecosystems.

Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall threaten fishing, agriculture, and livelihoods, particularly in densely populated cities like Lagos, Accra, and Abidjan.

Nigeria can turn her economic challenges into fortunes if she approaches the sahel region with the Maldives model where climate actions changed threat to prosperity and progress.

On the otherhand, the sahel Savannah is the region of contradictions in poverty, insecurity and prosperity.

The Sahel is experiencing rapid, severe climate change impacts, with temperatures rising 1.5 times faster than the global average.

Key effects include erratic rainfall, severe droughts, and intense flooding, which degrade agricultural productivity, destroy livelihoods, drive displacement of millions, and exacerbate conflict over scarce resources.

Let’s understand the real issue of climate change in Nigeria and the need to redouble efforts and create the pathway and framework for economic growth and development.

How has governance, transparency and accountability change the fight against climate change in Nigeria.

Climate change in Nigeria drives severe environmental and economic crises, including devastating floods in the south, rapid desertification in the north, and extreme heatwaves nationwide, making it one of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

These shifts destroy agriculture, reduce food security, and cause violent conflicts over dwindling resources. As the country prepares for the 2026 season of extreme weather conditions, the choice between politics, elections and environmental protection and economic consequences stares at the nation.

Nigeria must remember that the World Economic Forum has identified extreme weather conditions as the third most disruptive action against global economy because anywhere there is natural disasters, there are also economic disasters.

AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi

CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS