NiMet Warns of Respiratory Complications as Dust Haze Spreads

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned Nigerians about possible respiratory complications as dust haze spreads across parts of the country, urging people with asthma and other respiratory conditions to take precautions.

The warning comes as the agency forecasts varying weather conditions across Nigeria from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, with dust haze expected in the North and thunderstorms accompanied by rain in parts of the South.

According to NiMet’s three-day weather outlook, moderate dust haze will affect some northern states, while slight dust haze will prevail across most parts of the region.

The agency expects slight dust haze across most northern areas on Friday. However, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, northern Borno and Yobe may experience moderate dust haze.

On Saturday, moderate dust haze will persist in parts of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, northern Borno and Yobe, while other areas will experience slight dust haze. The agency expects slight dust haze to continue across most of the North on Sunday.

NiMet advised people with asthma and other respiratory sensitivities to exercise caution during the forecast period because suspended dust particles could aggravate their conditions.

In the North Central region, the agency predicts sunny skies with patches of clouds throughout the three days.

Meanwhile, southern states should expect a combination of cloudy skies, sunshine, light rain and thunderstorms.

On Friday morning, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine will prevail across parts of the South, with light rain expected in Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

NiMet also forecasts afternoon and evening thunderstorms accompanied by light rain in parts of Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

On Saturday, morning sunshine and cloudy conditions will give way to afternoon and evening thunderstorms with light rain in parts of Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

The outlook for Sunday indicates that afternoon and evening thunderstorms, accompanied by moderate rain, may affect parts of Lagos and the wider South-East and South-South regions.

Beyond the health advisory, NiMet urged residents to take precautions against hazards associated with thunderstorms and strong winds.

The agency advised members of the public to secure loose objects outdoors and stay away from tall trees during storms to avoid injuries from falling branches.

It also recommended disconnecting electrical appliances from sockets during severe weather conditions to reduce the risk of electrical hazards.

For aviation safety, NiMet urged airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports from the agency to guide flight planning and operations.

The agency further encouraged Nigerians to monitor its official weather updates for timely information on changing conditions.