NiMet Warns: Lagos, Delta, 4 Other States to Face Up to 250 Rainy Days in 2025 Amid Rising Flood Risks

In its recently released 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a significant weather advisory: residents of six southern states Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom should prepare for an extended rainy season, with up to 250 to 290 days of rainfall forecast for the year.

According to NiMet, coastal regions will experience one of the longest wet seasons in recent memory, with rains expected to begin as early as February 23 and continue until mid-December. This prolonged rainy period could bring total annual rainfall levels as high as 3,010 millimetres in the most affected areas.

Inland southern states such as Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi are also predicted to have a lengthy rainy period, receiving between 200 to 250 rainy days. Meanwhile, central Nigeria is forecast to record 150 to 200 days of rainfall, while the northern belt, including states like Sokoto, Borno, and Yobe, may see 110 to 150 rainy days, with total annual rainfall averaging around 405 mm.

NiMet cautioned that this uneven rainfall distribution with an abundance in the South and less in the North could have serious implications, particularly for urban flooding, agriculture, infrastructure, and public health.

“We urge communities and local authorities to implement proactive measures such as drainage clearance, early flood warning systems, and farming schedules aligned with rainfall projections,” the agency stated in its report.

NiMet also flagged vulnerable sectors such as farming and urban housing, recommending climate-resilient farming techniques and investments in stormwater management infrastructure to mitigate the expected impact of prolonged rainfall. Urban planners in cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt, where flooding is a recurrent issue, have been urged to act swiftly.

This forecast follows several years of increased climate unpredictability in Nigeria, including flash floods that displaced thousands in 2022 and 2023. The agency’s seasonal outlook serves as both a warning and a planning tool for governments, businesses, and residents.

As the climate continues to change, experts stress the importance of aligning national and state-level responses to NiMet’s forecasts to minimize loss of life, property, and livelihoods.