By Euclid Myke, Abuja.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released the 2025 seasonal climate prediction (SCP), forecasting an onset of rain across the country in May.
This is as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo harped on the importance of early warning systems in ensuring a safe aviation sector and socio-economic stability.
Keyamo at the public presentation of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja on Tuesday, emphasized the growing impact of climate change on aviation and other key sectors.
A statement by Mr. Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Keyamo, said that the minister in his keynote address at the event, commended NiMET for its dedication to providing accurate and actionable climate data.
Keyamo described the SCP as an invaluable tool for risk mitigation and decision-making across various industries.
According to him, the theme of this year’s presentation: ‘The Role of Early Warnings Towards a Climate-Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development, was timely given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events that threaten global air travel.
Keyamo insisted that aviation is a weather-sensitive sector where decisions on flight plans, takeoff, and landing were made based on weather conditions.
He added: “Reports indicate that global flight delays due to adverse weather increased from 11 per cent in 2012 to 30 per cent in 2023. More turbulence-related accidents are also expected due to worsening weather conditions brought about by climate change.”
The minister further highlighted thunderstorms, squalls, wind shears, heavy rainfall, flash floods, sandstorms, dust haze, and fog as some of the major meteorological challenges facing the aviation industry.
He noted that these factors contributed to flight delays, economic losses, and even casualties, reinforcing the need for robust climate predictions to enhance air travel safety.
He stressed that NiMET’s SCP served as a vital early warning system, equipping aviation stakeholders and other sectors with the information needed to anticipate and adapt to climatic variations.
The SCP not only ensures uninterrupted operations in aviation, but also safeguards lives, property, and the economy.
The minister further stated that accurate predictions of the SCP would enable farmers to optimise planting and harvesting schedules, enhance food security, ensures disaster managers would also be able to prepare for extreme weather events and reduce casualties and economic losses, among others.
He also urged all government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector actors, researchers, and the media to champion the use of the SCP in decision-making processes, stating that collaboration and information sharing would be key to maximising its impact.
Among the key highlights were delayed onset of rains in northern and central states, including Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara.
Others are early rainfall onset in southern states, such as Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and parts of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi.
Besides, he said shorter rainy seasons are expected in Borno and Yobe, while Lagos and Nasarawa may experience longer-than-normal rainy seasons.
Normal to below-normal rainfall predicted for most parts of the country, with above-normal rainfall expected in Kebbi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos, Abia, Akwa Ibom, and the FCT.
Flash floods expected in coastal cities during high-intensity rainfall in May-June.
Also, severe dry spells (15+ days) likely in Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom in April-May-June.
The ‘August Break’ (Little Dry Season) would begin in late July, with severe effects in Lagos and Ogun (lasting 27-40 days), according to the SCP highlighted by the minister.
Higher-than-normal temperatures predicted nationwide in January, February, March, and May, while April is expected to be cooler than normal.
In alignment with the United Nations Early Warnings for All Initiative, Keyamo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging NiMET’s climate predictions for effective disaster preparedness and socio-economic resilience.
He urged stakeholders to apply the SCP’s insights in mitigating risks associated with climate change, warning that failure to act could lead to severe consequences.
