In a major step toward strengthening national safety and economic planning, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction alongside the 2025 State of the Climate Report.
Speaking in Abuja, he framed these reports not merely as weather updates but as critical tools for governance under President Tinubu’s development agenda, linking climate intelligence to national security, food stability, and infrastructure resilience.
Central to this year’s forecast is a science-driven approach, emphasizing precision and preparedness.
Mr. Keyamo noted that while the overall climate phase is largely neutral, regional variations are expected.
He cautioned that early rains in the south do not mark the full season, warning of “false starts,” prolonged dry spells, and an extended August break, particularly for Lagos and the South-West, urging farmers and stakeholders to base decisions strictly on official data.
The aviation sector stands to benefit directly from this intelligence, with reliable weather data now considered essential for safe and efficient flight operations.
The Minister highlighted that as Nigeria’s monitoring systems advance beyond a century-long history, the focus is on high-quality service delivery.
By bolstering the capacity of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the government aims to transform weather intelligence into a major driver of the country’s multi-billion naira aviation and transport industries.
NiMet Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, emphasized the agency’s technological leap through Artificial Intelligence.
AI-driven forecasting models are now being deployed to provide faster, more accurate early warning systems, aligning Nigeria with global standards and bridging the gap between complex meteorological data and practical, everyday use.
This innovation is designed to ensure that communities are better prepared for the “new normal” of climate variability, helping Nigerians adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns while reducing economic and human losses.
Echoing this vision, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Yakubu Kofarmata and NiMet leadership urged state governments and private sector partners to move beyond observation toward active implementation.
They stressed that the true value of the 2026 forecast lies not in reports alone, but in how effectively it informs policy, disaster preparedness, and strategic planning across the nation.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen