The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast a delayed onset of rainfall in northern and central states for the 2025 rainy season, affecting areas such as Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara. Conversely, early rainfall onset is expected in southern states, including Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi, while other regions will likely experience a normal onset.
At the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) event, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, cautioned that pre-onset rainfall activities should not be mistaken for the actual start of the rainy season. NiMet’s forecast also indicates an earlier-than-average end to the rainy season in Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, the FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo. However, a delayed end is expected in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu.
Other key predictions include:
Shorter-than-normal rainy seasons in Borno and Yobe.
- Longer-than-usual rainy seasons in Lagos and Nasarawa.
- Severe dry spells (above 15 days) in Oyo (April-June) and 21-day dry spells in northern states (June-August).
- The ‘August Break’ (Little Dry Season) to begin late July, with severe impact in Lagos and Ogun, lasting between 27 and 40 days.
NiMet’s Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, emphasized that the seasonal climate prediction (SCP) is a crucial planning tool and urged stakeholders to utilize the forecast effectively while providing feedback for improved accuracy.
