The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has projected an early onset of rainfall in several states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Oyo, as part of its 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP).
The forecast was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of the SCP and the 2025 State of the Climate in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, cautioned that while some rainfall has already been recorded in parts of southern Nigeria, these should not be mistaken for the full commencement of the rainy season. He advised farmers and other rainfall-dependent users to rely on NiMet’s officially predicted onset dates to guide planning and reduce climate-related risks.
“The impact and effect of climate variability and climate change remain daily realities of modern times, shaping aviation safety, economic decisions, national security planning, food security, infrastructural development, and the well-being of our people. These realities demand that governments place climate science and data, as well as early warning systems, at the very heart of national planning,” Keyamo stated.
He added that rainfall distribution will vary nationwide, with above-normal rainfall expected in parts of the South-South, South-East, North-West, and the Federal Capital Territory, while some states may record below-normal totals.
NiMet Director-General and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Charles Anosike, assured that the agency remains committed to providing authoritative, science-based climate information to support planning and decision-making. He noted that as climate variability and extreme weather increasingly threaten lives, infrastructure, food security, and economic growth, timely and reliable weather data has become indispensable for building climate-resilient communities.
Anosike highlighted NiMet’s adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence integration into forecasting, and partnerships to downscale the 2026 SCP to farmers and states nationwide.
The unveiling was witnessed by the Secretary-General of the WMO and representatives from Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, and other sister agencies, underscoring Nigeria’s growing role in regional climate science collaboration.
By Emmanuel Obisue, Abuja
