…Says planting to commence Feb 28
…Launches 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction document
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that early rainfall is expected in the country around April and May, 2022 in the central states and within June to July in the northern states.The agency further advised farmers to commence planting crops as from February 28 of same year in the coastal states further predicting that the dry could set in as from May to August with different levels of severity.
Minister of Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika made the disclosure in his address on Tuesday during the public presentation of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) titled “Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery” at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
He said that global trend report in 2022 by the World Metrological Organisation (WMO) categorized 2021 as one of the seventh warmest years on record. He said that despite all the major distortions in global climate ecosystem, NiMet was able to predict the 2021 rainfall parameters with an excellent performance skill.
In a synopsis of 2022 weather forecast, Sirika said,
“The earliest onset of the planting season (beginning of planting activities) is expected about 28th February, 2022 in the coastal parts of the country while the onset of rainfall is expected to occur between April and May in the central States and eventually within June to July in the Nothern States. The onset of the planting season is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with a few areas having it earlier while some area having it delayed.
“Rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the country in 2022 is predicted to be near the long term average conditions. The window between the inset and cessation dates can be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendar. The growing season is predicted to last between 250-300 days in southern parts of the country and 100 to 200 days in the north”.
On the volume of rain fall in 2022 he continued,
“The annual rainfall amount is expected to range from 390mm in the North to over 2790mm in the South. Annual rainfall amount ranging from 390mm to 790mm is anticipated in some parts of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states. The central states such as Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue and the FCT as well as Ekiti, Osun and Oyo are anticipated to record 1190mm to 1590mm of total rain fall”.
The minister also threw light on the dry season period. “From May to August 2022, dry spells of different degrees of severity ranging from mild to severe, are predicated for different parts of the country”
Accompanied by Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mohammed Bello; Minister of Water Resources Sulaiman Adamu; Minister of State for Power Prince Jerry Agba; Minister of State Mines and Steel Development Dr. Uche Ogar; Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Ahmed Bashir and Peter Ozor who represented the Minister of Science and Technology Sirika said that bad weather has caused many flight cancellation and economic losses in the country.
According to the aviation minister, the Buhari administration has procured some equipment to facilitate landing of aircrafts during bad weather but regretted that some airlines are yet to upgrade their manpower and equipment so as to take advantage of the technology. He added that weather prediction technology which NiMet has put in place has the capacity to halt framers losses and lead them to greater yield which in the long run will enable the country attain food sufficiency.
He called on every sector of the economy to put in place measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people and improve the economy. He urged all stake holders to take up their forecast and respond with appropriate actions for resilience, adaptation an mitigation.Further disclosing the content of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) document, the minister said that the document was translated into the three major languages of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba so that rural farmers can have full information on the weather prediction so that they take advantage of the information to maximize yield.
Earlier in his remarks, The Director General/CEO Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Permanent Representative Of Nigeria with World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu said that the core mandate of his organisation is to collate, collect, process and disseminate all meteorological data and information for use in Aviation, Telecommunications, Power & Energy, Agriculture, Building and Construction, Oil & Gas, Disaster Risk Reduction & Management, Education, Defence, Marine & Maritime, Health, Finance & Insurance sectors.
According to him, “The Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped lots of farmers improve heir yields. It has also helped increase and improve the level of
preparedness by Emergency Management Agencies, complement the flood prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and served as an advisory tool for many stakeholders at the Federal, State and Local Government levels”.
In his good will message, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said peoples lives now depends on what the weather says. He said that since the global warming, one we can no longer predict what the weather can look like. He urged all to take weather predictions seriously by keying into NiMet forecast.
Also in his message, Secretary General of WMO Petteri Taalas who joined the event via zoom reported that World Meteological Organisation with 93members has earmarked about $50million for Africa and other developing economies for the improvement of ground work, weather observation and support in Africa.
The WMO boss tasked African countries to understand that the impact of climate change is already visible and must be controlled if the continent must make any in road in Aviation, agriculture, housing sectors.
Minister of state for power Jerry Agba emphasized the importance of rain and weather to agricultural production. He said that without predictions, it will be very difficult to plan for planting and harvesting. He thanked NiMet for making the information handy, saying that weather information is the live wire for farmers and the aviation.
Also lending his voice, Engr. Clement Nze, Director General of Nigeria Hydrology Services Agency observed some progressive and relevant steps taken by NiMet to provide correct weather predictions for national planning. He commended them for the 72 weather prediction they started last year.
Present at the event were Minister of Agriculture Mustapha Baba Shehuri represented by Engr. Shehu Bello; Federal Road Safety Cooperation (FRSC) boss Boboye Oyeyemi represented by Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu represented by ACC Aduza Fidel; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director General Shuaibu Ibrahim, represented by Mr Abubakar Unagu.
Others include National Airspace Management Agency Director General Captain Fola Akinkuotu represented by Mathew Pwajok and other government dignitaries as well as members of the business community.
