July 19, 2026 by Chinyere Okoroafor
Nigeria loses over 20 working days yearly to climate-driven heat, faces rising poverty risk – report
Nigeria is losing the equivalent of more than 20 working days annually in key sectors because of climate-driven extreme heat, exposing millions of workers to falling incomes, rising healthcare costs and an increased risk of poverty, a new global report has revealed.
The report, Heat, Health and the Increasing Costs of Living – A Call for Action, identified Nigeria as one of the countries most severely affected by the combined impact of heat-related productivity losses, high out-of-pocket medical expenses and weak social protection systems.
The study by adelphi global found that workers in Nigeria’s agriculture and construction sectors, two of the country’s largest employers, are already losing the equivalent of around 20 working days or more each year due to heat stress, resulting in significant income losses for households that depend on daily wages.
Researchers warned that the combined effect of declining earnings and rising healthcare costs could push many vulnerable Nigerians below the poverty line if urgent action is not taken to strengthen climate adaptation, labour protections and social safety nets.
The report, which assessed the impact of extreme heat across Bangladesh, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria and South Africa, said Nigeria, alongside Bangladesh and India, faces the greatest financial risks because of high working-hour losses, heavy out-of-pocket healthcare spending and limited social protection.
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According to the report, climate-driven heat affects household finances through two interconnected pathways. First, dangerous temperatures reduce workers’ productivity, forcing many to slow down, take extended breaks or stop working altogether, while recovery from heat-related illnesses can keep them away from work for weeks.
Secondly, heat-related illnesses increase household spending on medical treatment, creating additional financial pressure, particularly in countries like Nigeria where many healthcare expenses are paid directly by patients.
The report noted that workers in the informal
economy are especially vulnerable because they often lack paid sick leave, health insurance and income protection.
Researchers said the economic consequences of extreme heat extend beyond individual households. Although countries such as Brazil, France, Italy and South Africa record fewer working-day losses, heat-related illnesses and deaths still contribute to annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses of up to 25 billion dollars.
The report warned that both household income losses and national economic costs are expected to increase as global temperatures continue to rise.
It attributed the growing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, including oil, coal and natural gas.
To reduce the impact, the report urged governments to integrate climate, health and labour policies, strengthen public health and social protection systems, extend labour protections to informal workers and provide compensation or insurance schemes for workers affected by extreme heat.
It also called for increased adaptation financing to help countries protect vulnerable populations from the health and economic consequences of rising temperatures.
Mathilde Wilkens, report author and consultant at adelphi global, said the findings show that climate change is no longer only an environmental challenge but also a public health and economic crisis.
“Our report reveals that climate change is making us sicker and, as a result, it’s also making us poorer. As climate-driven heat stress puts people’s health at risk and stops them working, households are suffering a double burden of reduced incomes and increased medical expenditures,” she said.
Executive Director of adelphi global and
co-author of the report, Dennis Tänzler, said governments must move beyond climate adaptation planning to implement practical measures that protect workers and families most exposed to extreme heat.
The report was launched in Berlin recently during a roundtable organised by adelphi global and the Centre for Planetary Health Policy on the links between extreme heat, public health and the rising cost of living.
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