The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Nimet, has predicted that the Nigeria aviation sector will witness flight delays and cancellations in 2016 due to adverse weather condition.
Making the prediction in Abuja at this year’s Seasonal Rainfall Predictions, the Director General ,Nimet, Dr Anthony Anuforom said there will be “late on set, early cessation and lower than normal rainfall in many parts of the country in 2016” and the late on set of rainfalls will hit the northern parts seriously.
On aviation, Anuforom said “moderate harmattan is expected to affect air travel with lots of delays and cancellations.” He further explained that dry spells during the rainy season may be more frequent and severe in many parts of the North while the little dry season (August Break) in parts of the South will be pronounced. According to him there were risk factors for farmers in the affected areas which needed to be carefully and scientifically managed.
He added that lower than normal rainfall in parts of the country does not rule out the possibility of isolated flash floods due to high intensity rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in places that were naturally prone to flooding.
The Nimet DG explained that the length of the rainy season in 2016 will be expected to range from 110-275 days, increasing from the far north to the Niger Delta. “It’s predicted to be above normal in and around Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Bauchi, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states.
He emphasised the need for the provision and dissemination of full climate services which he said was beyond the capacity of any single organisation and that there was need for collaborations among the MDAs across disciplinary boundaries.
Anuforom suggested that the ministry of agriculture and rural development should work closely with Nimet to include relevant agrometeorological information as part of its agricultural extension package.
He said Nimet will be willing to work with the environment ministry to complete the development of a national framework for climate services while it will also want to partner with state government or organised groups to get the predictions to the grass roots, translated into local languages and provide training on the interpretation and application.
