Flooding is a phenomenon that sometimes has devastating effects on human livelihoods. Impact of floods is more pronounced in low-lying areas due to rapid growth in population, poor governance, decaying infrastructure and lack of proper environmental planning and management. Flooding is also exacerbated by climate change and inadequate preparedness. However, flooding in most Nigerian cities is a major environmental challenge that has continued to defy solution as more people are rendered vulnerable to hazards involved. The implications of recent flooding in Nigerian cities include among others; loss of life and properties, spread of diseases, deformed livelihoods, assets and infrastructure. This paper therefore provides an overview of how Nigerian cities have been affected by flood incidences. The paper contends that prevailing effects of climate change, particularly flooding affecting almost everything in cities demands urgent attention in form of environmental and infrastructure planning, effective policy, improved and effective management of ecological fund, enhanced environmental disaster insurance, effective professional practice, enhanced public enlightment programmes, integration of environmental planning and education to curriculum of schools at all levels, capacity building towards adaptation and mitigation of climate change impact. It also argued for the need to reinvent Nigerian cities through good governance towards creating sustainable cities in the country.

This study examined environmental and health effects of climate change in Kaduna metropolis. Primary data were obtained through randomly administered 184 structured and semi structured survey questionnaires to purposefully selected groups of people, workers and students in the metropolis. Secondary data were obtained from desk reviews of other literatures and interviews of staff of Nigerian Metrological (NiMET) Agency and Ministry of Environment Kaduna. Descriptive statistics using Likert rating scale was employed for the analyses of the data. Findings revealed percentage range of strongly agree and agree of 80% - 59.8% that climate change has negative environmental and health effects in Kaduna metropolis. The environmental effects identified are: flooding, desert encroachment, drought, land degradation, run-off, soil erosion, loss of water resources and biodiversity and poor agricultural productions while the health effects are: hyperthermia, vector and water borne diseases (cholera, malaria), heart ailments, dehydration and diseased crops. The study also discovered that the comprehension of the concept climate change in the metropolis is limited. Finally, the study recommends intensive public education and enlightenment on the causes and effects of climate change, strong legislations and enforcement of environmental laws and adaptation measures.