Nigerian Metrological Agency, NiMet, has released the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, predicting delayed rains in parts of North Central Nigeria.
“A normal onset is likely to occur over the northern states. Borno, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states are predicted to have an early onset when compared to their long-term averages,” Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2024 SCP.
The prediction added that an early end of 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, while 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, FCT, Niger, and Kaduna.
The annual 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, while other parts of the country are likely to observe normal to above-normal annual rainfall amounts, the 2024 SCP revealed.
“Most parts of the country are expected 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 mean. Normal to shorter length of season will likely occur in other parts of the country”.
In his remarks, Director General of NiMet, prof. Charles Anosike, reiterated the critical importance of improved weather, water and climate information, products, and services for a Climate-Resilient Economy.
Similarly, Chairman, House Committee on Aviation Technology, Akinlade Abiodun, charged NiMet to extend the information to local farmers and others in rural areas.
