NIMET projects delayed onset of rainfall   

Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has projected delayed onset of rainfall in some parts of the country, especially North Central states.

The agency in the Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) also projected Borno, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states to have an early onset, when compared to their long-term averages.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while presenting the 2024 SCP, yesterday, in Abuja, further forecasted an early end of the season for parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, and Lagos states.

The SCP, however, forecasted other parts of the country to observe normal to above-normal yearly rainfall amounts.

According to him, most parts of the country are expected to experience a shorter length of season, while Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom are likely to experience a longer length of season when compared with their mean, adding that normal to shorter length of season will likely occur in other parts of the country.

He said: “A late cessation is predicted over the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Ekiti, and parts of Edo, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

“The yearly rainfall amount is predicted to be below normal over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Kebbi, Gombe, 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, he added, are likely to observe normal to above-normal annual rainfall amounts.

Keyamo noted that, in recent years, there had been upward trends in extreme weather and climate events, saying the World Meteorological Organisation affirmed that 2023 stood as the hottest year ever documented, surpassing all previous records by a considerable margin.

“The global average temperature for the year perilously approached a worrisome 1.5°C above pre-industrial benchmarks. This alarming reality signifies a critical moment, particularly considering the Paris Agreement’s aim to limit long-term temperature increase to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Director-General of NiMet, Prof Charles Anosike, remarked that the impact of climate change was being felt across the globe, especially in Africa, as more than 110 million people on the continent were directly affected by weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2022, causing more than $8.5 billion in economic damages.

He appealed to the Federal Government to pursue the development of a National Framework for Weather, Water and Climate Services, with a vibrant User Interface Platform for effective engagement and contribution of stakeholders to the production and utilisation of Early Warning in the country, saying the fight against climate change calls for effective public and private stakeholder cooperation and action.