Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has launched the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) stipulating that rain will be delayed in some parts of the country, the North Central states while the northern states will have early rain.
Speaking while unveiling the ceremony for SCP 2024 on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said that the onset of rains in 2024 is predicted to be delayed in some parts of the country, especially the North Central states of the country.
Mr Festus Keyamo, further emphasized on the theme: ‘Facilitating a Weather Resilient Economy Through Early Warnings for all to Foster Renewed Hope and Sustainable Development’.
According to NiMet, the states of Borno, Abia and Akwa Ibom would witness 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, Home, Bauchi, Cross River Ebony, Ogun and Lagos states.
However, a late cessation is predicted over the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Ekiti and some parts of Edinburgh, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, FCT, Niger and Kaduna.
The minister disclosed that the document also contains detailed predictions for temperature in the first five months of the year, predictions for the dry spell and little dry season, as well as predictions for Malaria and Meningitis.
“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 length of season will likely occur in other parts of the country.”
He said the 2024 SCP which has been summarized for policy makers and translated into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin languages is expected to promote wide uptake of information for all.
“As the highly anticipated 2024 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction is released today, I strongly encourage all stakeholders to evaluate the predictions thoroughly and strategically, to build adaptive capacity and resilience against climate variability within your respective sectors.
“It is my desire that the content of the document enables policymakers to plan activities, allocate resources effectively, and protect our citizens from the adverse impacts of weather.”
The Special Guest of Honour, and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who spoke virtually said the two critical issues facing the country are climate change and Food crisis, added that the importance of NiMet prediction.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Emmanuel MERIBOLE said the increasing weather vagaries across the globe has made atmospheric predictions very critical to socio-economic development of any nation.
” Over the years, we have witnessed changing climatic patterns, extreme weather events, and attendant disastrous impacts to lives, property, and livelihoods. These emphasize the critical significance of our gathering here today, ” he said.
Also, the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the temperature for 2024, both day and night, is predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in March and May.
“This prediction serves as an early warning tool for stakeholders and the general public for timely preparedness and anticipatory action against weather and climate-related hazards down to local and hard-to-reach communities.”
