Nigeria’s nomadic fishermen, on the front lines of the climate crisis

The Niger River, at 2,600 miles, is the third-longest river in Africa and flows through four countries (Guinea, Mali, Niger at its border with Benin, and Nigeria). Some 3.8 million nomadic fishermen live, seasonally, on its banks, according to 2016 data from Nigeria's University of Port Harcourt. In the photo, taken in February, a fisherman observes the rising waters in the village of Igbedor (Anambra State, southern Nigeria). Giulio Tonincelli

Climate change is increasing the risk of flooding in Nigeria, and making life more difficult for these fishermen as well. Between June and November last year, 1.5 million Nigerians had to flee their homes because of flooding and some 500,000 hectares of crops were damaged. Nomadic fishermen adapt to changing rainfall cycles, anticipating or postponing their movements along the Niger River depending on its flow and weather conditions. In the photo, a fisherman fixes his net on the temporary island created in Igdebor, called Nkpologwu, last January. Giulio Tonincelli

The village of Igbedor and the surrounding villages are connected through the river system, which is also a major source of water for domestic use. The local population is of Igbo ethnicity and speaks Igbo, like the vast majority of the population in Anambra. For a few months, fishermen from the northern states, such as the Igala of Kogi, settle in the area and coexist peacefully with the local Igbo community, even though they speak different languages and have different traditions. Giulio Tonincelli

Nomadic fishermen often live in vulnerable communities with limited access to resources and infrastructure. Extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, can further increase their financial fragility, leading to loss of fishing gear, damage to boats and displacement from their traditional fishing grounds. The photo, taken in February 2023, shows Yaheya, a 25-year-old Igala nomadic fisherman, at dawn on the Niger River. Giulio Tonincell