NiMet asks farmers, others to seek its counsel on early rains prediction

 

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) management has asked farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chains in Nigeria to ensure best practices based on the 2026 climate prediction of early rains in about thirteen states with 21 days dry spell before embarking on cultivations or any other food related activities to avoid weather-related complications.

This advice is given at the presentation ceremony of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) forecast being presented to the public in Abuja.

Delivering the 2026 SCP, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, advised farmers and those in related agricultural activities to ensure proper counsel from NiMet before embarking on any food productivity activities.

According to Keyamo, " Those engaged in rain- fed agriculture and other rainfall-dependent activities in Nigeria are thereby advised to refer to the predicted onset dates in the publication or consult NiMet for proper guidance."

About thirteen states, including Benue, Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Anambra, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe, and Taraba have been penciled down for early rainy prediction by NiMet.

The aviation Minister said that the agency also projected early onset of rains in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, and parts of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, and Taraba states, while Borno is expected to witness a late onset of rainfall.

NiMet according to Keyamo said rainfall cessation would occur earlier than normal in some parts of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, and Niger states, stressed however that the end of the rainy season is likely to be delayed in Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states.

Also, parts of Borno, Yobe, and Niger states are expected to have a shorter-than-normal rainy season. Despite these variations, the agency anticipates normal annual rainfall amounts in most parts of the country, and there would be above-normal rainfall in Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom states, with the FCT.

However, below-normal rainfall is expected in parts of Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states, just as NiMet warned of severe dry spells lasting more than 15 days in parts of Oyo and Ogun states between March and May. Moderate dry spells are also predicted in Ekiti, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, and Delta states, as well as parts of Kogi and Kwara.

During the June-July-August period, NiMet projected severe dry spells of up to 21 days in parts of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states.

However, the Little Dry Season (LDS), commonly referred to as the “August Break,” is expected to begin in late July, and may be severe and prolonged over Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, and parts of Oyo states.

NiMet further predicted that daytime and nighttime temperatures would be warmer than the long-term average across most parts of Nigeria in January, February, March, and May.