By Ezra Ukanwa, Abuja

The Federal Government, FG, has revealed that the North Central region of Nigeria, along with several other areas, are likely to experience delayed rainfall in 2024.

Likewise, a normal onset is likely to occur in the northern states, and Borno, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states are predicted to have an early onset when compared to their long-term averages. 

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. 

However, 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 predictions were made by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, at the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction, held on Tuesday in Abuja. 

Furthermore, the report revealed that 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.

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

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 lengths of season will likely occur in other parts of the country.

Furthermore, the report reveals, “Temperature: Both day and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in January, March, and May 2024.

However, February day and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be cooler than normal. Moreover, most of the north is also anticipated to be cooler in March.

“Little Dry Season (LDS): The occurrence of 2024 LDS is projected to start from the 22 of July-2 of August 2024, a longer break in rainfall (LDS) is predicted over Kwara and Lagos states with a duration of more than 27 days. Some parts of Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, and Lagos are likely to have a low to moderate event with a coverage of about 18-27days. Ondo, Edo and some adjoined areas in Kogi states may experience shorter LDS.”

While stressing the importance for weather predictions, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said: “I fully understand the impacts of weather on the aviation industry. Flight safety and efficient air transport operations are hugely dependent on accurate weather forecasts, advisories, and early warnings. 

“Through continuous investments in meteorological weather stations, satellite data, and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), NiMet has continued to enhance aviation-specific weather services. The aviation industry looks forward to continued collaboration with NiMet and the meteorological community to utilize weather information for planning flight operations, aircraft routing, and scheduling, among other applications.”

Corroborating, the chairman, House Committee on Aviation tech, Akinlade Abiodun, charged Nimet to extend this information to local farmers and to those in the suburbs.