Long-term drought in Nigeria has resulted in desertification and a shortage of land for raising cattle and growing crops. To acquire land for farming or grazing, farmers and herdsmen are encouraged to go to new areas, which frequently leads to violence. Herders and farmers have been engaged in increasingly violent fights over the previous two years. More than 2,000 people lost their lives in 2018. However, many residents of the Villages in Nigeria's Plateau State are unwilling to relocate because it is their home. When a community is burned down, new bricks are created to repair the destroyed homes.
Drought is a phenomenon that occurs in Nigeria and impacts the whole nation. The arid and semi-arid regions are more sensitive than the dryer south, but the degree of vulnerability varies. In Northern Nigeria, drought resulted in famines in the years 1914, 1924, 1935, 1943, 1951–1954, 1972–1973.
A recent survey conducted in seven states of Nigeria by SBMIntel, an Africa-focused research firm, showed that approximately 79% of Nigerian farmers were impacted by the damaging effects of drought and flooding in 2020. Among them, 26.3% experienced significant disruptions to their harvests due to extreme weather conditions. About 52.60% were somewhat affected, while 21.1% reported no impact from the drought and flooding. The survey, titled "Nigerians just want to eat," highlights the major challenges faced by Nigerian farmers and food transporters, which could potentially hinder national
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying drought in Nigeria alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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