By Adamu David
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) with a forecast of delayed rainfall over the northern and central states of Plateau as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara.
The forecast projected early onset over the southern states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and sections of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi as the rest of the country is predicted to have a normal onset.
The SCP document further predicted that most parts of the country will experience significant rainfall events at the beginning of 2025, and these rains will likely come before the onset.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, unveiled the 2025 SCP by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to the public yesterday in Abuja with the theme, “The Role of Early Warnings towards a Climate Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.”
The predicted end-of-rainy season compared to the long-term average indicates that parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo states are expected to be early.
A delayed end of the season is expected over parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states.
The minister described the SCP document as a critical tool for informed decision-making, as it offers insights into expected weather and climate patterns, equipping various sectors with the foresight needed to plan, mitigate risks, and harness opportunities.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, in his welcome address, said that the accompanying summary of the SCP document will be translated for r policymakers into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin languages
He said a comprehensive report on the State of the Climate in Nigeria for 2024 underscores the Ministry’s and NiMet’s commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and ensuring that the information reaches even the most remote communities.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof Charles Anosike, said that the SCP is perishable just like other weather and climate predictions and requires actors to uptake the information, utilize it, and provide feedback for evaluation and improvement of the document.
He commended the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology for their unrelenting support towards the progress of NiMet, urging them to support in downscaling of the SCP to their constituencies and states for maximum impact.
