…Says bad weather raised flight delays from 11% to 30%
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that some northern states will experience delayed rainfall this year.
The minister made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday during the public presentation of the 2025 (Seasonal Climate Prediction) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
“The onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states of Plateau as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara. While early onset is expected over the southern states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and sections of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi. The rest of the country is predicted to have a normal onset.
“Also, earlier than long-term average end-of-rainy season is predicted over parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo states.
“A delayed end of season is expected over parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states.
“The predicted length of the rainy season in 2025 is expected to be mostly normal across the country. However, Borno and parts of Yobe states could experience a shorter than normal length of season. Lagos and Nasarawa states are likely to have longer than normal length of seasons in 2025,” the minister explained.
On the essence of the prediction on aviation, he noted that decisions on flight plans, take-off and landing are not made without first considering weather conditions.
“The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global flight delays due to weather conditions have been on the increase, jumping from 11% in 2012 to 30% of total flight delays in 2023. Therefore, early warning systems, backed by robust climate predictions, are essential to overcoming these challenges and ensuring safety, efficiency and sustainability of air navigation business,” he added
Earlier in his remarks, the DG of NiMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the annual prediction is critical in guiding stakeholders and the business community in their planning.