NiMet Predicts Early Rainfall in Most Parts of Nigeria as Keyamo Unveils 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday unveiled the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), highlighting early rainfall across most parts of the country.
Themed “The Role of Early Warnings towards a Climate-Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,” the SCP predicts significant rainfall events at the beginning of the year, with some areas expected to experience early downpours before the normal onset of the rainy season.
According to the SCP, the onset of rain is expected to be delayed in parts of the northern and central states, including Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara.
In contrast, early rainfall onset is predicted in southern states such as Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi. Other parts of the country are expected to experience a normal onset.
Similarly, the prediction for the end of the rainy season shows that rainfall will cease earlier than usual in parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ekiti, and Ondo states.
Meanwhile, a delayed end of the season is anticipated in parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states.
Speaking at the unveiling, Minister Keyamo underscored the SCP document’s significance as a critical tool for informed decision-making across multiple sectors.
“It offers insights into expected weather and climate patterns, equipping various sectors with the foresight needed to plan, mitigate risks, and harness opportunities.
Agriculture, disaster risk management, health, marine operations, transport – and especially aviation – are among the many domains that will benefit from this invaluable resource and advisory,” Keyamo stated.
Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
He noted that, in addition to the SCP, the Ministry and NiMet have prepared:
A summary SCP document for policymakers
Translations of the SCP into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin
A comprehensive State of the Climate in Nigeria for 2024
“These efforts ensure that the information reaches even the most remote communities, reinforcing our dedication to public engagement,” Dr Kana remarked.
Professor Charles Anosike, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, stressed that climate predictions are perishable and require stakeholders to uptake, utilise, and provide feedback to improve future forecasts.
He expressed gratitude to members of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation, as well as state governors and their representatives, for their support.
“NiMet relies on your constituencies and states for subsequent downscaling of the Seasonal Climate Prediction for maximum impact at the last mile,” Prof Anosike stated.
The 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction document is available for download on the NiMet website (www.nimet.gov.ng) to enable individuals, institutions, and stakeholders to make data-driven decisions regarding weather and climate conditions in Nigeria.
