When I think about climate change, it doesn’t feel like some distant, scientific topic I read about online , it’s something I live in and experience almost every day here in Makurdi, Benue State, infact I'm experiencing it currently. Over the years, the signs have become more obvious and impossible to ignore.
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I remember when I was much younger, the rainy season in Makurdi used to be predictable. We could almost mark the calendar and say, “The rains will start by April or May,” and the dry season would be so clear-cut that everyone knew exactly when to plant, harvest, or travel. But today, things have changed drastically. The rains now come late or start suddenly with unexpected intensity. Sometimes, after waiting so long for rain, it arrives in heavy, destructive torrents that destroy farms and flood houses instead of bringing relief and cool.
One of my most vivid and painful experiences with climate change was during the 2012 flood. It was like a nightmare. In the middle of the night, water started entering our compound. At first, we thought it was a minor issue that would subside, but before we knew it, the water had reached our doorstep,in a matter of minutes we could feel water reaching our knees already. We had to hurriedly pack some essential things, climb higher ground, and seek shelter with relatives. Our furniture, clothes, and even important documents were soaked. Some of our neighbors had it worse, their homes were completely submerged, and they lost almost everything.
The flood didn’t just destroy property; it left a psychological scar. Since then, each rainy season brings anxiety. Whenever the clouds gather,i keep checking if the water level is rising. Many families now live in constant fear, and some have permanently relocated from low-lying areas around Wadata, Gyado Villa, and other flood-prone parts of Makurdi.
On the flip side, when it is not flooding, the heat is becoming unbearable. The dry season now feels longer and hotter. I remember when i could sleep at night without fans or air conditioning, but these days, it is almost impossible. The heat is so intense that you can feel it on your skin like fire. Even at night, there is hardly any cool breeze. Many people fall sick due to heat rashes, dehydration, and other heat related illnesses. You see more people carrying water bottles around just to stay hydrated.
What makes it worse is how this heat affects our daily activities. Simple tasks like going to the market, walking to work, or even attending church become exhausting. For students, concentrating in class is difficult because of the extreme heat. For farmers, the unpredictable weather means their livelihoods are constantly at risk. Crops that should be thriving with regular rainfall either dry up too soon or get destroyed by sudden, heavy downpours.
Some people still think climate change is just an exaggerated topic for the news, but for those of us living here in Makurdi, it is real and terrifying. It affects our health, food supply, income, and even our mental well-being. The sad part is that despite experiencing it firsthand, many people still don’t understand the need to act. Plastic waste is still dumped carelessly, drains are blocked, and trees are cut without replacement.
Personally, climate change has taught me to be more conscious of my environment. I try to reduce waste, plant trees when I can, and encourage people around me to do the same. I’ve learned to appreciate the value of every drop of rain and every cool breeze because we can no longer take these things for granted.
In the end, climate change isn’t just a distant threat; it’s here with us in Makurdi. The floods, the unbearable heat, and the unpredictable seasons are proof that the environment is crying out for help. And if we don’t take meaningful action soon, we may continue to witness even worse impacts that will make life even more difficult for everyone in our beloved town.
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