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Zawya
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Zawya
Nigeria's Climate: What early warning system means to aviation, agric, economy?
It may seem insignificant to some people, but most times we don't notice that weather patterns are drastically changing. We complain of heat while the season lasts. Once the heat season is over, we forget. Then comes the rainy season which will also take a different turn due to climate change. Though we notice these extreme weather conditions for a short while, the truth is that changing weather patterns have adverse effects on the planet. And if nothing is done to correct or halt certain hazardous human practices, unfriendly weather patterns will get worse as the years go by. At the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) issued on February 4, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, lamented that as climate change continues to reshape our planet, the aviation industry faces increasing challenges—from erratic weather patterns to the growing frequency of extreme events which directly impact airline operations. According to the minister, 'Adverse weather – thunderstorms, squalls, wind shear, heavy rainfall, flash floods, sandstorms, dust haze, fog, and so on, are some of the greatest challenges in aviation, resulting in flight delays, injuries, economic losses including loss of lives and property. 'Aviation is a weather sensitive sector – decisions on flight plans, take-off and landing are not made without first considering the weather conditions.' He said, 'The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global flight delays due to weather conditions have been on the increase, jumping from 11 percent in 2012 to 30 percent of total flight delays in 2023. 'According to ICAO, while turbulence have long been a leading cause of injuries in-flight, scientific evidence suggests that there may be more severe weather patterns brought about by climate change which could lead to more turbulence-related accidents.' The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stated recently that Nigeria has witnessed increasing heat waves continuously for over a decade. Yet the Seasonal Climate Prediction for 2025 revealed that this year will be warmer than the previous years up to last year. The Northwestern Regional Representative of the WMO, Bernard Gomez noted: 'Today, humanity is faced with the challenges of climate world witnessed the hottest 10 years on record in 2024. 'The year 2024 was also confirmed as the hottest year on record and is likely to be the first calendar year to temporarily hit 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial era. 'Every fraction of a degree matters to our lives, our livelihoods and biodiversity as this increases our vulnerability and exposure to more frequent and intense heat waves, more devastating storms, floods and drought, and more rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. 'In Nigeria, the frequency and intensity of heat waves, windstorms, floods, and dry spells has witnessed an increase in the last 10 years with huge implications for human lives and socio-economic development.' Similarly, the Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, also noted that unprecedented weather extremes in the past few years are on the rise. He said early warning gaps such as inadequate finance and access to latest technologies, uncoordinated dissemination efforts, insecurity and maintainability of early warning systems must be proactively addressed. 'We must recognise that closing the early warning gap requires all – including strong collaboration, coordination and cooperation between national and international partners, policymakers, the private sector, and local communities, especially the youth. Government alone cannot do it. 'Just like the WMO noted, early warning systems protect everyone, everywhere on the planet. To achieve this, international collaboration is more important than ever before. 'National ownership remains at the heart of the Early Warnings for All initiative, with governments leading efforts to strengthen resilience and establish sustainable early warning systems. 'National Meteorological and Hydrological Services must remain the source of authoritative warnings, while the private sector can help drive innovation, strengthen dissemination, and enhance risk knowledge. 'We are glad to note that collaboration with bilateral and multilateral donors, climate funds, and development banks is increasing support for early warning efforts. This is because the Early Warnings for All initiative is a human and moral imperative and it makes economic sense. 'On a global scale, every US$1 invested in early warnings is estimated to result in about US$9 in net economic benefits. This analysis is higher at the national level.' Weeks ago, Keyamo highlighted the increasing negative impact of weather and climate on the aviation industry. He said, 'Early warning systems, backed by robust climate predictions, are essential to overcoming these challenges and ensuring safety, efficiency and sustainability of air navigation business. 'NiMet's SCP plays a pivotal role in this regard. It empowers stakeholders with the knowledge to anticipate and adapt to climatic changes, ensuring that aviation operations remain uninterrupted and that lives, and property are safeguarded. 'The SCP document we are unveiling today is a critical tool for informed decision-making. 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.' He explained that timely climate predictions will enable farmers to optimise farming schedules thereby improving the nation's food system security; disaster managers to prepare for emergencies and minimise risks; and health authorities to anticipate disease outbreaks linked to weather and climate variations. These underscore the interconnectedness of weather, climate, and socio-economic resilience. 'Over recent years, we have continued to observe unprecedented weather patterns that have tested our preparedness and resilience. From consistent warmer-than-normal temperatures to flash floods, the extremes of our climate are increasingly evident. 'These events serve as reminders that we must remain vigilant and proactive. We must continue to invest in sustainable practices, strengthen our infrastructure, and support communities that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Our seasonal climate predictions are not just about forecasting, they are about shaping our response to the challenges ahead,' Keyamo stated. The minister reiterated that the challenges posed by climate change demand innovative solutions, and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, through NiMet, will remain at the forefront of these efforts. 'With the support of policymakers and industry leaders, we can build a more resilient and prosperous Nigeria,' he concluded. As experts across different sectors call for solutions to mitigate rising harsh weather conditions including planting of trees, transiting from oil and gas to renewable energy and decarbonisation of ships to reduce emission, it is important the Nigerians pay attention to climate change in order curtail the effects of extreme weather patterns. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
05-02-2025
- Climate
- Zawya
Nigeria weather alert: FG warns of dry spell in some states during 2025 rainy season
The Federal government on Tuesday disclosed that some states in the country will experience severe dry spell of about 27 to 40 day during the 2025 rainy season. Speaking during the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) organized by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo warned that the Little Dry Season (LDS), also known as 'August Break' is predicted to begin by late July and would be severe only in parts of Lagos and Ogun states. 'The number of days with little or no rainfall will range between 27 to 40 days. Moderate LDS effect is expected over parts of Ogun, Oyo, and Ekiti states. Osun, Oyo, Kwara, and parts of Ondo north are likely to experience light or mild Little Dry Season'. He said during the April-May-June (AMJ) season, 'there is a likelihood of a severe dry spell of above 15 days after the establishment of rainfall in Oyo state (Saki, Iseyin, Ogbomosho, Atisbo, Orelope, Itesiwaju, Olorunsogo, Kajola, Iwajowa and Ori Ire). 'Moderate dry spell that may last up to 15 days is likely to occur in Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states in the south. However, for the northern states, a severe dry spell that may last up to 21 days is predicted for the June-July-August (JJA) season of 2025. 'As with previous years, there are pre-onset rainfall activities that should not be confused with the actual onset of the rainy season. 'Those engaged in rainfed agriculture and other-rainfall dependent activities in Nigeria are therefore advised to refer to the predicted onset dates in this publication or consult NiMet for proper guidance'. Keyamo explained that the onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states of Plateau as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara. 'While early onset is expected over the southern states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and sections of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi. 'The rest of the country is predicted to have a normal onset. Earlier than long-term average end-of-rainy season is predicted over parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo states. 'A delayed end of 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 predicted length of rainy season in 2025 is expected to be mostly normal across the country. However, Borno and parts of Yobe states could experience shorter than normal length of season, Lagos, and Nasarawa states are likely to have longer than normal length of seasons in 2025'. He stated that a normal to below-normal annual rainfall is anticipated in most parts of Nigeria compared to the long-term average. 'Parts of Kebbi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos Abia, Akwa Ibom states, and the FCT are expected to have above-normal annual rainfall amounts. High-intensity rainfall is expected in May-June that may likely result in flash floods in the coastal cities'. The Minister further stated that temperatures are expected to be generally above the long-term average across the country. 'Both daytime and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in January, February, March, and May 2025. 'However, April day and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be generally cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures are likely over most of the northern states,' he said. In his welcome address, the Director General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike noted that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), aside being perishable also requires actors who will uptake the information, utilise it, and provide feedback for evaluation and improvement of the document. 'Everyone seated here today and those who have joined us virtually are custodians of the anticipated early actions to ensure the maximum and positive impact of the SCP'. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
