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NiMet forecasts early rainfall in 2025, flash floods in coastal areas
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released the 2025 seasonal climate prediction (SCP), forecasting an early onset of rain across the country.
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace, announced the forecast during the seasonal prediction presentation in Abuja on Tuesday.
Keyamo said the annual seasonal prediction is critical to ensure the safety, efficiency and sustainability of air navigation business and that of other sectors.
“I commend the Management and Staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for their unwavering commitment to providing accurate and actionable weather and climate information, a cornerstone for our Nation’s socio-economic development,” Keyemo said.
“The theme of this year’s presentation, “The Role of Early Warnings Towards a Climate Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development, could not be timelier.”
The minister said there would be delayed onset of rain over the northern states, while the southern states are likely to experience early onset of rain.
He noted that high-intensity rainfall is expected in May to June, which may likely result in flash floods in the coastal cities.
Keyamo added that there is a likelihood of severe dry spell of more than 15 days between April, May and June season, and may last up to 21 days expected in the northern states.
“Highlights of the 2025 SCP As with previous years, there are pre-onset rainfall activities that should not be confused with the actual onset of the rainy season,” the minister said.
“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 overa 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.”
He urged all stakeholders to utilise the information to make informed decision in order to reduce the climate risks of the country.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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