NiMet releases seasonal climate prediction, forecasts late onset of rain

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released the 2024 seasonal climate prediction (SCP), forecasting a late onset of rain across the country.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace, announced the forecast during the seasonal prediction presentation in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said the annual seasonal climate prediction report provides critical information to help guide decision-making across all sectors of the economy.

“As we are all aware, weather and climate have profound effects on aviation, agriculture, maritime, blue economy, water and natural resources, energy, disaster management, and infrastructure investments,” Keyamo said.

The minister said some parts of the country are likely to experience a late onset of rain, while some states are likely to experience an early onset of the rainy season.

“The 2024 onset of rain is predicted to be delayed in some parts of the country especially north-central states of the country,” he said.

“A normal on-set is likely to occur over the northern states. Borno, Abia and Akwa Ibom states are predicted to have early end sets when compared to their long-term averages.

“An early end to the season is predicted for parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun and Lagos states.

“However, a late secession is predicted over the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Ekiti and part of Edo, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, FCT, Niger and Kaduna states.

“The annual rainfall amount is predicted to be below normal over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Delta and Bayelsa states when compared to their long-term normal.

“However, other parts of the country are likely to observe normal to above normal annual rainfall amount.

“Most parts of the country are likely to experience a shorter length of season. However, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom are likely to experience a longer length of season when compared with their main. Normal to short length season will likely occur in other parts of the country.”

Keyamo also said the document has been translated into pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba languages to promote wide uptake of information and increase access to critical climate information.

Mustapha Ahmed, director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said NiMet’s seasonal climate prediction helps the agency to analyse disaster risk implications and produce disaster early warning messages for the protection of lives and assets.

“The metrological information from NIMet has continued to play a vital role in regard to preparedness, mitigation and response plans of NEMA,” Ahmed said.

“The seasonal climate prediction has over the years become a veritable tool that enables NEMA to conduct expert analysis of the prediction and produce climate-related risk management implications in respect of climate-sensitive sectors of the economy.

“It has served as an early warning message for emergency responders to support the protection of lives and critical national assets in the entire cultural landscape of Nigeria.”