The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned against interpreting early rains as the official beginning of the 2026 rainy season, emphasizing that weather patterns can be misleading for farmers and others reliant on rain.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, has issued a warning to the public, particularly farmers, not to interpret recent rainfall in parts of the country as a sign of the official start of the 2026 rainy season. This announcement was made during the public presentation of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and the 2025 State of the Climate in Nigeria.
Keyamo highlighted the importance of adhering to the predicted onset dates provided in the SCP document, noting that while areas in southern Nigeria have experienced significant rainfall, this does not officially mark the beginning of the rainy season. He emphasized that misinterpretation of early rainfall could lead to detrimental decisions for those engaged in rain-fed agriculture and other dependent activities.
The caution served to remind Nigerians that climatic patterns can be erratic, and reliance on early rain could result in inadequate preparation for the actual rainy season, which is vital for agricultural planning and water resource management. The government's alert aims to ensure that farmers make informed decisions based on accurate weather forecasts rather than immediate rainfall events.
