By Frank Momoh
With almost one and half months running even without rainfall in 2022, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), on Tuesday predicted that the annual rainfall amount for the year 2022 is expected to be normal in most parts of the country.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure while unveiling the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) in Abuja, said the annual rainfall amount is expected to range from 390 mm in the North to over 2790 mm in the South.
According to him, the annual rainfall amount ranging from 390 mm to 790 mm is anticipated in some parts of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states, while the central states of Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue and the FCT, as well as Ekiti, Osun and Oyo are anticipated to record 1190 mm to 1590 mm of total rainfall.
According to him, the earliest onset of the planting season (beginning of planting activities) is expected about the 28th February, 2022 in the coastal parts of the country while the onset of rainfall is expected to occur between April and May in the Central states, and eventually within June to July in the Northern states.
The onset of the planting season, he added is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with a few areas having it earlier while some areas having it delayed.
Sirika, said: “Rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the county in 2022 is predicted to be near the long-term average conditions. The window between the onset and cessation dates can be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendars.
“The growing season is predicted to last between 250-300 days in Southern parts of the country, and 100 to 200 days in the North.”
The Minister, added that areas around Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Benue, Bayelsa, and Rivers are likely to experience shorter than normal length of growing season, however, he said prolonged length of growing season is anticipated in parts of Plateau, Kaduna, Edo, and Imo States.
He said: “From May to August, dry spells of different degrees of severity ranging from mild to severe, are predicted for different parts of the country.
“Moderate dry spell persisting for up to 15 days is predicted over parts of Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, FCT, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Gombe. Parts of Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa and Plateau states may experience a severe dry spell that could persist for up to 20 days or longer in June 2022.”
On temperatures, NiMet predicts daytime and night-time temperature forecast for the months of January – April and from which the country is projected to expect warmer January, cooler days in February over the north but warmer nights over the south, even though 2021 recorded the warmest year in the last seven years.
He said, warmer days over the north and cooler nights around the south is predicted for the month of March, explaining that the month of April is forecast to experience warmer day time temperatures and cooler than long-term average night-time temperatures.
As the saying goes, to be “fore-warned is to be for-armed” but I will rather say ‘To be for-told is to be for-equipped’. It will be of great judgment to apply this information and data as the season unfolds while essential updates and necessary sensitization will be embarked on by NiMet to guide users of these products all through the season.
He said the forecasts and advisories are very helpful in decision making by all stakeholders including policy makers will be an understatement.
The 2022 edition of the SCP comes with a new document titled “Executive Summary for Policy Makers” which is specifically put together to assist policy makers: Ministers, Governors, Legislatures, Executives of weather and climate related MDA’s and other organizations (public and private), to take informed decisions that will minimize or prevent weather disaster risks and enhance Socio-economic production and growth in 2022.
In a remark, the Director General of NiMet, said SCP is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped lots of farmers improve their yields.
He said: “It has also helped increase and improve the level of preparedness by Emergency Management Agencies, complement the flood prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and served as an advisory tool for many stakeholders at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.
“We are all living witnesses to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and how many economies have struggled. In Nigeria, one of the pathways for economic recovery is agriculture.
“However, many of the agricultural practices are climate dependent and largely rainfed. It is important to recognise the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on developing the Agricultural Sector for Sustainable Green Economy, focusing on food system development agenda that will lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade. The Government aims to prioritise healthy diets and affordable nutrition through inclusive, efficient, resilient, and sustainable agriculture which will contribute to job creations and sustainable economy growth.”
