SCP 2026: Prof. Anosike emphasizes NiMet’s commitment to providing timely and Reliable Weather Data
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has launched its 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), highlighting the importance of climate information in building resilient communities. Director-General Prof. Charles Anosike emphasized NiMet’s commitment to providing timely and reliable weather data, leveraging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to enhance forecasting.
The event, attended by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, showcased NiMet’s partnerships with governments and NGOs to downscale climate information to local farmers. Anosike called for increased partnerships, particularly with state governments, to expand SCP outreach.
Here are key highlights from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released on 11 February 2026.
This provides crucial insights into weather patterns across the country.
Longer Rains: 13 states are expected to experience a longer-than-normal rainy season, including Lagos, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Anambra, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe, and Taraba.
Early Onset: Early rainfall onset 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.
Late Onset: Late onset is anticipated in Borno State.
Dry Spells: Severe dry spells exceeding 15 days are likely in parts of Oyo and Ogun States during March to May, while moderate dry spells are expected in Ekiti, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, and Delta states.
Flood Risks: Although not explicitly mentioned in the SCP, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had previously identified 32 states at high risk of flooding in 2023, including Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Eboyin, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, and Kaduna.
Past NiMet weather alerts have historically warned of flash floods during periods of intense rain (e.g., thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rains can trigger flooding in parts of northern and central states).
Temperature Trends
The SCP also predicts warmer-than-average temperatures across most of Nigeria from January to May 2026.
NiMet notes that daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to be warmer than average across most of Nigeria in parts of the year — which can affect evaporation rates, heat stress, and water demand.
