CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA: ASSESSING ITS EFFECT IN THE RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF ELDERLY IN NIGERIA

The study analyzed climate change in Nigeria: assessing its effect in the respiratory health of elderly in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change are more devastating due to their vulnerability and low coping capability. Nigeria's climate change impacts include rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts, and air pollution from industrial activities and urbanization. These factors contribute to the deterioration of air quality, which directly affects respiratory health, especially in the elderly. To address these challenges Nigeria must prioritize climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies that safeguard public health, particularly among vulnerable populations like the elderly. On this basis, it was concluded climate change exacerbates respiratory health issues among Nigeria's elderly due to increased air pollution, extreme weather events, and the spread of allergens and pathogens. Urgent action is needed to mitigate these impacts through policies targeting emissions reduction, air quality improvement, and healthcare infrastructure enhancement. One of the recommendations made was that robust air quality monitoring systems should be implemented nationwide to track pollution levels and enforce stricter regulations on industrial emissions and vehicular pollution.