The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has revealed that the 2024 onset of rains may delay in some parts of the country, especially in states in the North Central. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo revealed this at the public presentation of the 2024 SCP organised by NiMet on Tuesday in Abuja.

The conference was themed ” Facilitating a Weather Resilient Economy through Early Warnings for All to Foster Renewed Hope and Sustainable Development”. Keyamo also said that a normal onset was likely to occur over the northern states, while Borno, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states are predicted to have an early onset when compared to their long-term averages.

The Minister said that an early end of the season is predicted for parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, and Lagos states respectively. He further said a late cessation is predicted over the southern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Ekiti, and parts of Edo, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, FCT, Niger, and Kaduna states.

“A 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.”While normal to shorter length of season will likely occur in other parts of the country,” he said.

Keyamo said that the annual SCP document was one of the flagship products of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, providing critical information to help guide decision-making across all sectors of the economy. He noted that weather and climate had profound effects on several sectors including the aviation, agriculture, maritime and blue economy, water resources, natural resources, energy, disaster risk management, infrastructure investments, among others.

This he said made the reliable meteorological information an essential for supporting food security, reducing risks, improving livelihoods, and building resilience against the vagaries of weather.

Speaking also at the event, Prof Charles Anosike, the Director General/CEO of NiMet and Permanent Representative of Nigeria with World Meteorological Organization (WMO), urged Nigerians to receive the predictions with good fate, disseminate and factor it positively into their activities.

Anosike said that the agency had consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence by delivering its annual SCP early in the year. He said that the early release of predictions was to show the vital role accurate weather prediction played in a nation’s collective well-being and to guide its activities.

“Let me reiterate the critical importance of improved weather, water and climate information, products, and services for a climate-resilient economy.

“These encompasses historical data, nowcasting, short and medium range forecasts, sub-seasonal to seasonal predictions, annual to multiannual and decadal projections. “This information is fundamental for resource planning, routine operations, and maintenance work management, disaster risk reduction and investment planning systems.”I will encourage everyone to take all these predictions, disseminate them and make timely and positive use of them in our various sectors,” he said.

The NiMet boss said that the agency remained commitment to ‘facilitating a weather-resilient economy through early warnings for all to foster renewed hope and sustainable development’. This he said should be at the forefront of the various sectors planning and economic agenda.

Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mrs Kema Chikwe, commended the minister and the leadership of NiMet for ensuring a continuum in the projection of resilience and commitment towards safe-guarding the aerospace. Dr Emmanuel Meribole, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development said that the increasing weather vagaries across the globe had made atmospheric predictions very critical to socio-economic development of any nation. According to him, over the years, we have witnessed changing climatic patterns, extreme weather events, and attendant disastrous impacts to lives, property, and livelihoods. “These emphasise the critical significance of our gathering here today and the SCP is the tangible evidence of the hard work and dedication of the men and women within NiMet who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes.”Using scientific knowledge, robust and quality historical data, scientific models, and vast experience of experts within NiMet and stakeholders across relevant sectors of the Nigerian economy,” he said. Meribole said that the educative, enlightening, informative, and entertaining predictions should be well studied and necessary actions be taken to ensure sustainability in all the nation’s endeavours.

The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology, Hon Abiodun Akinlade said the importance of NiMet could not be overemphasized and the National Assembly was ready to support its activities for the benefit of the entire nation. Similarly, Sen. Diket Plang, the Chairman Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, lauded NiMet for the timely SCP linking its comparative advantages towards national productivity. Also, Sen. Saliu Mustapha, Chairman Senate committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the timely SCP presentation and called for the dissemination of its contents in the various local languages in the country for the benefit of local farmers. While, Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (GAS) pledge support to climate change by ensure an end to gas flaring. However, on his part, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Representatives of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, urged the NiMet to ensure clear weather predictions for airlines by issuing hour-on-the-hour weather predictions. He lauded NiMet for the successful 2024 SCP stating that the predictions were apt and very useful for airlines operators and the group was ready to support the agency commercial through the media to ensure that predictions are updated per hour and disseminated swiftly.

Other stakeholders and groups at the event, including the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Nigeria Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defence, Local/Grassroots Farmers Association, Students of various secondary schools in the FCT, lauded the event and called for the sustenance of timely SCP.

They also reiterated commitment to supporting NiMet projects through collaboration and partnership for the benefit of the entire country. Highlight of the event was the virtual goodwill message from former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the public unveil and presentation of the SCP by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, supported by the Director-General of NiMet and others.

Diana Omueza

news@wfm917.com

Women Radio 91.7