James Ijampe-Adamu: Don’t Plant But, Early Rains Don’t Sign Season Begin
Technical Assistant to the Director Common of the Nigerian Meteorological Company (NiMet), James Ijampe-Adamu has warned farmers to not rush into planting following early rains, saying pre-season showers don’t sign the beginning of the 2026 wet season and will result in important agricultural losses.
Talking in an interview with ARISE Information on Wednesday, he mentioned the company’s 2026 Seasonal Local weather Prediction (SCP) highlights pre-onset rains which will confuse farmers, significantly within the southern elements of the nation.
“As acknowledged clearly by the Honourable Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Growth, the forecast has been categorised into three. We’ve got what we name the pre-onsets,” he mentioned.
“The pre-onsets are rainfalls that, like in Abuja this week, you skilled some gentle showers and issues like that.”
He cautioned that these early rains shouldn’t be mistaken for the start of the farming season.
“That is complicated to farmers, significantly within the South once we’ve had some rains in January. The depth was a bit excessive. And the warning there may be that after this pre-onset exercise, there can be a break. That doesn’t imply the season has began.
“That is what we undergo yearly and we discover our farmers shedding their sources by speeding to plant.”
In line with him, the early rainfall exercise is pushed by atmospheric situations.
“It’s because the Madden-Julian Oscillation and the mid-latitude wave are triggering, bringing in moisture from the coast into the nation. And earlier than it restabilises, the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD) has been swinging inside latitude seven and eight. That’s why we’re having this rainfall.”
He burdened that farmers ought to rely strictly on the official onset dates contained within the NiMet forecast doc.
“What we try to say is that this appears complicated and we try to information our farmers in opposition to loss. Keep away from planting due to these early rains. The onset date within the doc, as clearly acknowledged by the Honourable Minister, is offered for every native authorities.
“Meaning the chance of shedding what you’re going to spend money on agriculture, significantly rain-fed agriculture, is decreased by planting based mostly on the information within the doc. Should you plant this month as a result of there have been some rainfalls within the South after which you’ve one or two months with out rain, that may be a large loss. And we’re making an attempt to climate-proof our financial system, significantly the agricultural sector.”
NiMet’s forecast signifies longer wet seasons in Lagos, Benue, Oyo and a number of other South-East states, together with Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia, whereas Borno, Yobe and elements of Niger State might expertise shorter seasons.
Rainfall cessation is projected to happen sooner than regular in elements of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Niger states. Nonetheless, a delayed finish to the season is anticipated in Lagos, Enugu, Anambra, Cross River, Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
Explaining why some states seem in a number of classes, Ijampe-Adamu mentioned climate patterns don’t respect administrative boundaries.
“The best way the environment behaves, it doesn’t perceive administrative boundaries. You’ll find the northern a part of a state experiencing totally different climate from the southern half.
“That’s why we are saying elements of Ogun State might have early cessation, whereas different elements, if you consult with the doc, you will notice the native authorities definition. Should you’re in northern Ogun or southern Ogun, your onset dates differ, your cessation differs. The environment doesn’t perceive these administrative boundaries.”
Past rainfall, NiMet can also be projecting higher-than-normal temperatures throughout the nation in 2026.
“This yr, the temperatures can be hotter than regular, each daytime and night-time. So your out of doors actions must be guided as a result of it impacts each human well being, together with livestock and the remainder.”
He mentioned the forecast additionally consists of well being advisories.
“We’ve got meningitis vigilance on this doc. We’ve got malaria vigilance, and it will assist these within the well being sector to know the place they need to mobilise sources to stop an epidemic.”
In line with him, the doc cuts throughout a number of sectors.
“This doc cuts throughout all sectors — water sources and the remainder. And it’s necessary that each Nigerian has this.”
NiMet, based in 1886 and established by regulation in 2003, is marking 140 years of offering climate and local weather data to assist agriculture, aviation, water administration and catastrophe threat discount.
Ijampe-Adamu mentioned the company has engaged state governments and native authorities to make sure the forecast reaches communities.
“The Director Common of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, by way of the Honourable Minister, has written to state governors, inviting them to the revealing of the Seasonal Local weather Prediction. Thereafter, this doc can be transmitted to the state governments, as a result of that’s the place we now have our communities and native governments.
“After this, we do what known as downscaling. We associate with state governments, NGOs and improvement companions. We go to states and native governments.”
He added that NiMet has simplified entry to the forecast.
“Through the years, we’ve understood that releasing this forecast simply in English does not likely assist. So we now have a smaller model for policymakers — very useful. You may take a look at the forecast and take choices.
“We’ve got it translated into Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.”
The total 2026 forecast, he mentioned, is offered on-line.
“The mushy copy is on our web site, downloadable on our web site, on our Twitter deal with and all social media. And we’re counting on the media, each radio and tv, to get this to the grassroots.”
As local weather variability and excessive climate occasions more and more threaten lives and livelihoods, NiMet says well timed and dependable climate data stays important for safeguarding agriculture, public well being, infrastructure and nationwide {economic} progress.
Boluwatife Enome
Times Nigeria