13 States to Experience Longer-Than-Normal Length of Rainy Season in 2026
By: Abudu Olalekan
NiMet forecasts extended rains for 13 Nigerian states in 2026. Learn about early onsets, dry spells, and warmer temps—essential for farmers and planners. Stay ahead with Reportersroom updates.
Picture this. A farmer in Enugu wipes sweat from his brow, clouds gathering slow. But come 2026, those rains might stick around longer. Way longer. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency—NiMet—says so. They predicted it all in their latest report. Thirteen states hit with an extended rainy season. Lagos. Benue. Enugu. Ebonyi. Ogun. Oyo. Nasarawa. Anambra. Kwara. Kebbi. Kaduna. Gombe. Taraba. That’s the list. Not just a sprinkle extra. A full-on prolongation.
Mr. Festus Keyamo, he’s the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, dropped this news. During a public shindig in Abuja. The 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction presentation. Happened Tuesday, February 10. Keyamo stood there, formal as ever, but the info? Casual impact on everyday lives. NiMet’s forecasts aren’t just numbers. They’re stories waiting to unfold across farmlands and cities.
Early onset. That’s the start of rains, rushing in ahead of schedule. Expected in Bayelsa. Rivers. Akwa Ibom. Cross River. Benue. Kogi. Nasarawa. Oyo. And patches of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, Taraba. Get ready quick. Plant those seeds. But Borno? Late onset there. Delays. Frustrating, right?
Now, the end. Cessation, in fancy terms. Earlier than normal in parts of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Niger. Wraps up fast. Dry days come sooner. However—and here’s the twist—a delayed end in Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna. Rains hang on. Lingering. That’s what stretches the season for those 13 states.
Shorter seasons elsewhere. Parts of Borno, Yobe, Niger. Cut short. Normal rainfall overall, though. Most of Nigeria sticks to long-term averages. Balanced, sorta.
Rainfall amounts? Varied. Above normal in Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom. And the FCT too. Good for reservoirs, maybe floods too. Below normal in bits of Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun. Thirsty lands.
Dry spells. The bad guys. Severe ones over 15 days in Oyo and Ogun, March to May. Tough stretch. Moderate dry spells across Ekiti, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Delta. Plus parts of Kogi, Kwara. No rain. Stress on crops.
Furthermore. June-July-August. Severe dry spells up to 21 days. In Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara. Long gaps. Brutal for growth.
The Little Dry Season. August Break, locals say. Starts late July. Severe, prolonged in Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, parts of Oyo. 28 to 40 days little or no rain. Whew. Moderate in Ondo, sections of Kwara, Edo. Still, not easy.
Temperatures rising. Daytime, nighttime—warmer than average. January, February, March, May. Most places. Hotter spells. Sweaty nights.
NiMet warns. Those big rains in the south this year? Don’t think season’s here. It’s not. For rain-fed farming folks, or anyone depending on weather—check the dates. Consult NiMet. Proper guidance saves headaches.
This prediction? It’s like a weather novel. Twists in every state. Farmers plotting calendars. Cities bracing for water. Reportersroom’s got the scoop, straight from Abuja. Nature’s unpredictable. But armed with this? You can plan. Stay dry—or wet—wisely. Who knows what 2026 holds next
