The 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has predicted that Lagos, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Anambra, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe and Taraba states will experience longer rainy season, while Borno, Yobe and Niger states will have a shorter season.
The forecast also predicted severe dry spells exceeding 15 days between March and May in parts of Oyo and Ogun states, while moderate dry spells are expected over Ekiti, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, and Delta states, as well as parts of Kogi and Kwara states.
Little Dry Season (LDS), also known as ‘August Break,’ is predicted to begin by late July and would be severe and prolonged over Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and parts of Oyo states, as number of days with little or no rainfall will range between 28 and 40 days as a moderate LDS effect is expected over Ondo, parts of Kwara and Edo states.
Furthermore, during the June-August season, a severe dry spell that may last up to 21 days is predicted for parts of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who unveiled the prediction, yesterday, in Abuja, also said that early onset of rain is expected in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, and parts of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, and Taraba states, while a late onset is expected over Borno State.
The minister stated that the impact and effect of climate variability and climate change remain daily realities of modern times that have shaped aviation safety, economic decisions, national security planning, food security, infrastructural development, and the well-being of Nigerians.
Keyamo said that given the strong emphasis the current administration places on economic stability, food security, infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, and the protection of lives and livelihoods, the provision of timely, accurate weather information and climate services is no longer optional, but a strategic enabler of national development and good governance.
Also, the Director-General of NiMet and permanent representative of Nigeria with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Prof. Charles Anosike, reiterated the commitment to downscale the SCP document to local farmers across various states to enhance climate resilience and agricultural productivity.
According to him, the agency is working to fast-track the deployment of digital advisory services in partnership with local and international collaborators, noting, however, that more efforts are required to achieve wider impact.
He, therefore, called for increased collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders to enable the dissemination of the 2026 SCP information to more states than in previous years.
The agency emphasised that it remains committed to providing timely, accurate and reliable weather and climate information to support the development of a climate-resilient economy.