NIMET forecasts floods in several states

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) said floods are likely to occur in Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Adamawa states as a result of above normal rainfall in 2017.

NiMet made the forecast in its 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released yesterday.

It said “the predicted rainfall amount is expected to be below normal in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, northern Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Abia and some coastal areas.”

The rest of the other states are expected to experience normal rainfall, the report indicated.

Presenting the report NiMet Director-General, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi said “NiMet predicts the earliest onset date to be February 25th over the coastal region of the Niger Delta. Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States are predicted to record early onset dates by about 3 to 7 days range from their 30year normal.”

He said the early secession of the rain should occur October 4th 2017 across the extreme north progressing to December 25th 2017 in the coastal areas.

On the socioeconomic implications, he said “food production is expected to be less than normal due to shorter growing season length over large parts of the country. Should note the predicted early cessation of rains in the northern parts and pockets of south and harvest their products early.”