THE Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr Anthony Anuforom, has warned of possible drought and extreme weather condition in the country in 2014.
Presenting the 2014 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) in Abuja on Tuesday, Anuforom, disclosed that most parts of the country are predicted to have below normal rainfall and associated long period of dry season during the year.
His prediction came just as the Federal Government revealed that the post disaster Needs Assessment report on the 2012 floods indicated that the estimated losses and damage to farmlands, houses, environment among others was to the tune of N2.6 trillion.
Anuforom advised farmers to expect early cessation of rainfall and plant early maturing crops, while also encouraging irrigation.
He noted that rainfall onset dates would vary between the first week of March and late June, especially in the southern part of the country, adding that some parts of the country would experience delayed onset of rainfall.
The agency predicted that the rainy season is likely to end in the first week of October in the North and fourth week of December in the South.
“Rainfall cessation is predicted to be earlier than normal over most parts of the North and Central States.”
Anuforom said: “Cessation from the ENSO signal at the time of doing the prediction was on neutral phase. Neutral phase of ENSO portends normal raining season based on previous experience and empirical evidence.
“But this neutral phase breaks into El Nino, which portends more of dryness. And based on that therefore, it’s like most part of the country will see early cessation of rain. In other words, the dry condition may set in earlier than normal.
Anuforom said there may not be flooding this year as experienced in 2012 but warned that the weather and climate are in a state of probability.
“If I tell you that there is 70 per cent probability of rainfall today, then, there is also 30 per cent probability that what I said may not be right. We can’t play God. The predictions are not statements from God,” NIMET DG said.