– Experts blame human activities for 90% damage — Communities rally to revive green life
– Kano Govt pledges to plant 3m Trees
By Zahraddeen Yakubu Shuaibu
In the heart of Kano City, 55-year-old Mallam Ibrahim Musa fans himself with a worn piece of cardboard under the blazing afternoon sun. Once a proud farmer from the outskirts of Bichi, he now sells vegetables at a roadside stall — a small business born from the ashes of a tree plantation, abandoned to dry soils and relentless heat.
“Before, under our trees, the breeze was sweet like honey,” he recalls, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Today, even in the morning, the air burns.”
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Malam Musa’s experience reflects what millions in northern Nigeria are feeling—unrelenting, suffocating heat that seems to get worse with each passing year. In recent years, Kano has experienced soaring temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C (104°F) and heatwaves lasting longer than ever before. But this isn’t just weather—it’s a symptom of a deeper crisis: climate change.
In an interview with Agro Climate News, many people across the state are lamenting the scorching hot weather in Kano State. From the marketplace to farms and from the streets, women at home are also facing similar issues.
“While we battled with the heat in the kitchen and other activities during the day, we also found it difficult to sleep at night. The heat is too much, and there was no light available to cool the weather,” a mother of four, Hajiya Madina Umar, told Agro Climate News.
Across Kano State, from the ancient walls of the city to the farmlands areas and beyond, residents are facing the harshest reminder yet that climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is here, and it is personal.
“For us living in the metropolis, life is no longer easy. We are living in a mud house for only God knows how long. We inherited these houses from our grandparents, who lived here when the population was not much. But here we are today,” Inuwa Sani Ali, a resident of Tudun Wuzurchi in the Kano metropolis lamented to our reporter.
He further recalled how many people died due to the heat during the COVID-19 period, “I lost two of my uncles, and it was due to the heat. People were forced to stay at home then, and the weather wasn’t friendly, so it triggered many illnesses. The heat was too much, and there were no available trees to reduce it.”
Malam Sani is now worried if that heat is resurfacing even though people can move freely. “Unlike the COVID period, the heat is now resurfacing even though we’re going on our daily activities. It’s unbearable, honestly. I pity our mothers who are always at home.”
Agro Climate News gathered that Nigeria is increasingly experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change, with statistics showing a significant rise in temperature and extreme weather patterns. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the country’s average temperature has risen by about 1.6°C over the past century, exceeding the global average increase.
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Furthermore, the country’s rainfall patterns have become highly unpredictable: northern Nigeria has witnessed declining annual rainfall by up to 20% in some areas, while southern regions suffer from more intense flooding. Lake Chad, once a major water source for millions, has shrunk by over 90% since the 1960s, severely affecting agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods.
The consequences of these changes are already evident across sectors. The World Bank estimates that climate change could cost Nigeria 6% to 30% of its GDP by 2050 if urgent action is not taken. Food security is under threat, with crop yields projected to decline by 10% to 25% due to changing rain patterns and rising temperatures.
Also, coastal cities like Lagos are increasingly vulnerable, with sea levels expected to rise by 0.5 meters by the end of the century, threatening millions with displacement. These statistics underline the urgent need for climate resilience efforts, especially in agriculture, water management, and urban planning across Nigeria.
However, Kano been one of the largest cities in West Africa and the second largest population in Nigeria, is doing little or nothing, despite the numerous consequences occasioned by the negligence. Both the government and public abandoned their responsibilities of safeguarding the environment towards a better living situation.
Heatwaves made worse by human hands
Environmental experts warn that human actions are fanning the flames of the crisis, thereby contributing to the worsening climate issues through the cutting of trees, rather than planting more.
Scientists point to rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. While climate change is a global issue, its impact is intensely local. Northern Nigeria, already semi-arid, is becoming even hotter and drier. The rainy season is shorter and less predictable, leaving the land parched and people struggling.
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“Over 90 per cent of Kano’s environmental degradation is caused by us — humans,” says Dr Yusuf Bello of Bayero University Kano. “Tree felling, uncontrolled urban development, and reliance on firewood are stripping our land of its natural defences.”
According to him, in the past, Kano had several green gardens and tree plantations, but they have now disappeared, “and the places were converted to business structures or residential estates. This is not wise for our living and we will regret it in the future.”
Professor Adamu Idris Tanko, Vice Chancellor of Baba Ahmed University, told Agro Climate News that “In Northern Nigeria, unfortunately, we are not doing much. One; we are always aware that carbon has a way by which it can be taken off the atmosphere. If you plant and grow a lot of trees, it will take away the carbon. So, in Northern Nigeria, we are supposed to be doing that. If we plant so many trees, the trees take away the carbon, and they give us oxygen.
“I think we are aware of the interchange. But we don’t produce so much of it. We cut down trees instead. We burn the trees that are what we are taking as firewood.”
According to research, Kano has lost nearly 70% of its green cover in the past ten years. The consequences are visible: hotter days, failing crops, water scarcity, and a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses.
In Sabon Gari, schoolteacher Hafsat Garba watches her students struggle to concentrate in classrooms that feel like ovens. “We used to hold lessons under mango trees whenever the weather was uncontrollable,” she says. “Now there are no trees — only dust and heat.”
According to the teacher, many of her pupils find it difficult to comprehend and concentrate on the classes whenever the weather is unfriendly, “which is affecting their performance negatively.”
One cardinal factor that contributes to the worsening harsh weather in Kano is in the area of waste management. Refuse dumping in Kano is a serious issue that’s been causing problems for residents and the environment.
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“The indiscriminate dumping of waste on major roads and drainage has led to fears of flooding in the state. This is because the waste clogs up the drainage systems, causing water to overflow and flood the surrounding areas,” Professor Tanko added.
The Kano State Government has attributed the flooding and harsh weather conditions to the attitudes of residents who dump refuse on roads and drainage.
According to a study published in the Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, approximately 3100 tons of waste are generated daily in metropolitan Kano, with only about 36% being evacuated.
The study also found that, “80% of waste disposal sites are located close to roads, settlements, or water bodies. 92% of existing waste disposal locations are open spaces, while only 7% are containers (closed dumping sites). 89% of waste disposal sites are authorised, while 11% are unauthorised.”
In 2022, the state government, under the leadership of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, established a policy by engaging a private company to control waste management and convert it into wealth. However, the policy couldn’t yield a positive result, and it ended there.
To address the issue, the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has teamed up with other ministries to improve the waste management system in the state. However, despite these efforts, refuse dumping remains a significant challenge, particularly in areas like the Sabon-Gari market, where waste dumping has sparked outrage among residents and traders.
Communities fighting back
Despite the despair, a green revolution is quietly brewing. Community groups, schools, and religious institutions are stepping up.
At the Al-Huda Mosque in Kurna, Imam Salisu Ahmed recently launched a “One Worshipper, One Tree” campaign, encouraging each congregant to plant and nurture a tree in their neighbourhood.
“You cannot love God and destroy His creation,” Imam Salisu preaches. “Planting a tree is sadaqah — a living charity.”
Similarly, women’s groups in Gezawa are leading efforts to plant drought-resistant trees around their communities, protecting water sources and creating small green parks.
The Road to Recovery
Experts say these grassroots efforts are a good start — but real change will require strong political will.
“We need serious enforcement against illegal logging, and we must promote alternative energy like gas and solar,” says Professor Tanko.
The Kano State Government recently announced plans for a statewide reforestation campaign, but critics argue that without community ownership and awareness, the programs will wither like many before them.
However, the state government has pledged to plant three million trees as part of its comprehensive strategy to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
This initiative, known as the Three Million Trees Planting (3MTP) program, is spearheaded by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. Launched in June 2024, the program aims to plant these trees within a year, focusing on areas such as major roads, local communities, institutions, and public spaces across the state’s 44 local government areas.
In addition to the 3MTP, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has set an ambitious goal of planting 10 million trees during his first term in office. This broader objective involves engaging local government officials, traditional leaders, households, educational institutions, civil servants, religious leaders, and the business community to ensure widespread participation in tree planting and nurturing efforts.
The government has also implemented measures to protect the newly planted trees, including sensitisation campaigns to discourage indiscriminate tree felling and the development of legislative frameworks to enforce environmental protection laws.
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir M. Hashim initiated a comprehensive Climate Change Policy in January 2025. This strategic framework aims to address environmental challenges and position the state for a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
The policy institutionalises climate action across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, urban development, waste management, transport, water resources, and industry. It also provides a roadmap for planning, financing, and coordinating Kano’s climate response while integrating it into the state’s broader socioeconomic development strategy.
Because of the policy, in Kano, tree felling can now result in taking the offenders to prison for three to four months.
Agro Climate News
