Nigeria may record 31,400 heat-related deaths — Report

Nigeria may witness a staggering 31,400 extra heat-related deaths from September 2026 to February 2027, according to a grim report by the Climate Impact Lab. The country is expected to be among the worst affected in the world, with nearly half of the 66,800 additional heat-related deaths projected to occur in the Sahel region. The report, titled "451,000 at Risk: Where Action Can Save Lives During the Super El Niño," anticipates a global increase of 451,000 heat-related deaths during the six-month window compared to a typical year.

Temperatures are projected to be 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal during this period, with 44% more extremely hot days than usual. Climate Impact Lab co-founder and University of Chicago economist Michael Greenstone emphasized that these projections represent people going about their daily lives, expressing concern over the large number of potential fatalities, equivalent to parents, children, grandparents, neighbors, and working individuals.

The authors note that these unusually high temperatures could become commonplace in about two decades, describing the situation as a "postcard from the future." The report urges governments and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to protect vulnerable populations, citing measures such as heat warnings, health outreach, cooling centers, hydration stations, protections for workers, and increased health system capacity as potential interventions.

Researchers stress the need for both emergency responses and long-term planning to address the rising threat of extreme heat in the years to come.