Recurrent Rain in Nigeria and its Not Rainy Season? Here's What's Going On.

Have you wondered about the recent regular rainfall events in Nigeria even while it is not rainy season yet? Rainy season in Nigeria usually come in May / June but this year, the rains started in February and have been a bit regular.

Climate change is affecting rainfall patterns in Nigeria and contributing to irregular rainfall events outside of the traditional rainy season.

It’s important to note that climate change can alter the timing, intensity, and duration of rainfall events, which can lead to both floods and droughts in different regions. In areas where rainfall is the primary source of water for crops and livestock, irregular rainfall can reduce yields and cause food insecurity. ?This affects all farmers in a particular region who depend on the rains to plant and to determine harvest. I wrote a 14 page thriller story – The Year Ran Mad - to illustrate the impact of climate change on Livelihood which offers the reader a view of this from the lens of Mr Emeka, a farmer in the Village.

While it is difficult to directly attribute a single weather event to climate change, there is evidence to suggest that global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, in many parts of the world.

According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency(NIHSA) , in recent years, the country has experienced significant changes in rainfall patterns, with a shift from the traditional bimodal rainfall pattern to unimodal rainfall pattern in some regions. The NIHSA reports that rainfall has become increasingly erratic, with some parts of the country experiencing prolonged droughts and others experiencing intense rainfall and flooding events.

In 2020, Nigeria experienced one of its worst floods in recent years, affecting over 3 million people and causing significant damage to crops and infrastructure. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) , climate change was identified as one of the factors responsible for the floods, which were attributed to heavy rainfall and the overflowing of rivers and dams.

Here are some statistics that demonstrate the impact of climate change on rainfall patterns in Nigeria:

???????????Between 1960 and 2018, the average annual temperature in Nigeria increased by 1.1°C, which is higher than the global average (source: World Bank).

???????????Over the past 50 years, the onset and duration of the rainy season in Nigeria have become more variable, and there has been an increase in the number of extreme rainfall events (source: Nigerian Meteorological Agency).

???????????Nigeria experienced five consecutive years of below-average rainfall between 2015 and 2020, resulting in droughts and crop failures in many regions (source: Nigerian Meteorological Agency).

???????????In September 2020, parts of Nigeria experienced unprecedented rainfall and flooding, with over 100 people reported dead and tens of thousands displaced (source: National Emergency Management Agency).

While the impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns are well-established, there are some less commonly discussed factors that could be contributing to the irregular rainfall events in Nigeria. These include:

???????????Deforestation and land-use change: Nigeria has lost an estimated 3.5 million hectares of forest between 2010 and 2015, which can disrupt local rainfall patterns and lead to drier conditions (source: Global Forest Watch).

???????????Urbanization and the urban heat island effect: As cities and towns expand, they can create local weather patterns that differ from surrounding rural areas. Urbanization can lead to increased temperatures and reduced cloud cover, which can reduce the amount of rainfall (source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health).

These less commonly discussed factors demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between climate change and irregular rainfall in Nigeria. Addressing these underlying drivers of irregular rainfall will require a comprehensive approach that includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable land-use practices, and improving air quality.

Overall, the relationship between irregular rainfall and climate change highlights the need for adaptive management strategies that can help communities and ecosystems cope with changing weather patterns. This may involve a range of approaches, including improved water management, diversification of crops and livelihoods, and the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems.

About the Author

Glory Oguegbu

about.me/GloryOguegbu

Glory is an award-winning climate advocate and energy entrepreneur specializing in the fields of renewable energy and climate change for economic growth and development. She is the Founder / CEO of Renewable Energy Technology Training Institute (RETTI) which is improving economic development through the provision of access to clean electricity to benefit 93 million Nigerians without access by training and preparing new solar designers and installers.

Glory is the founder of RETTI Virtual University; Energy Education, Africa’s first online education platform for easy access and affordable renewable energy education. She pioneered the Africa Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders (AFYEL) and the Climate Leadership Fellowship to groom and mentor the next generation of African Energy leaders who will drive sustainable energy transition and promote Africa’s climate resilience."