2025 SCP: NiMet Predicts Delayed Onset of Rain in Kwara, Niger, Others
JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released its Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) for 2025, forecasting a delayed onset of rain across some northern and central states of the country.
According to the agency’s latest forecast, the states expected to experience a delayed onset of the rainy season include Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and parts of Kaduna, and Niger.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Fetus Keyamo, disclosed this in Abuja, on Tuesday, at the Public Presentation of the 2025 SCP.
Delivering the keynote address with the theme; “The Role of Early Warnings Towards a Climate Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,” Keyamo said, in contrast to the delayed onset in these states, an early onset of the rainy season is expected in some southern states.

“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.
“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.
“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,” Keyamo said.
The Minister added that 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. 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 disclosed.
The 2025 SCP further predicted 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 night time
temperatures are predicted to to be generally cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures are likely over most of the northern states. Details of the Prediction and the socioeconomic implications for various sectors of our national economy are contained in the document.
“In line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All Initiative, this prediction serves as an early warning tool to stakeholders, governments at all levels, and the general public for timely preparedness against potential hazards associated with surplus or deficit rains, floods, and high or low temperatures associated with as well as dry spells in parts of the country, among others emphasized the critical role of accurate climate predictions in guiding the nation through the impacts of climate change, particularly on the aviation sector,” Keyamo stated.
He further urged stakeholders to take advantage of the information provided in the document to make informed decisions so as to reduce risk associated with climate related disasters in the year.
“Let us seize this opportunity to deepen our understanding, strengthen our partnerships, and reaffirm our commitment to building a resilient and sustainable society. The SCP is not just a prediction; it is a blueprint for progress, resilience, and hope.
“The milestone we have achieved so far, and the reality of today’s public presentation couldn’t have been possible without the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, ably led by the President and Commander-Chief of the
Armed Forces, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“It is my hope that all stakeholders will make good and timely use of the information provided in this document to take informed decisions that will improve our productivity and reduce risk of exposure to weather and climate
related disasters in 2025,” he emphasized.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, in his welcome address, said that the accompanying summary SCP document for policymakers, translations of the SCP into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin languages, including a comprehensive report on the State of the Climate in Nigeria for 2024 underscore the Ministry’s and NiMet’s commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and ensuring that the information reaches even the most remote communities.

“Today’s session is particularly special because it represents our dedication to public engagement, ensuring that the knowledge we generate benefits communities across all 36 states of the federation and the FCT”, he said.
Also speaking, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof Charles Anosike said that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) is perishable just like other weather and climate predictions, and requires actors to uptake the information, utilize it, and provide feedback for evaluation and improvement of the document.

Professor Anosike expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology for their unrelenting support towards the progress of NiMet.
“My appreciation goes to the Members of the Senate, and House of Representatives and Excellencies-Governors in attendance and/or their representatives for accepting our invitation and gracing this important event. NiMet relies on your constituencies and States for subsequent downscaling of the Seasonal Climate Prediction for maximum impact at the last mile”, he concluded.
The full SCP document is available for download from the NiMet website (nimet.gov.ng).
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