KatsinaTimes
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Tuesday urged states and federal authorities to adopt climate-informed planning, emphasizing that the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) should guide agricultural planning, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure development nationwide.
Radda, represented by the Special Adviser on Climate Change, Prof. Al-Amin Mohammed, spoke at the public presentation of the Nigeria 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction organised by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja on February 10, 2026.
He described the SCP as a strategic decision-support tool with direct implications for agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, public health, water resources, infrastructure, energy, and economic stability.
“The 2026 SCP is not merely a scientific document; it is indispensable for evidence-based governance in a climate-stressed era,” Radda said.
The governor noted that Katsina State spans multiple rainfall and ecological zones, each with distinct vulnerabilities and planning needs.
According to him, the northern axis of the state — including Daura, Zango, Baure, Mai’Adua, Jibia, Mashi, Mani and parts of Kaita — is projected to experience later rainfall onset and earlier cessation in 2026, resulting in a shorter growing season and increased exposure to dry spells and heat stress.
He said the state government is prioritising early-maturing and drought-tolerant crop varieties, climate-informed planting advisories, water harvesting, small-scale irrigation support, and enhanced surveillance for heat stress and meningitis.
In the central corridor, covering Katsina metropolis, Batagarawa, Rimi, Charanchi and Kurfi, the forecast indicates rainfall onset and cessation largely within normal windows, though with risks of uneven rainfall distribution and intermittent dry spells.
Radda said the state is aligning planting calendars with NiMet advisories, integrating climate information into urban drainage and flood control systems, and strengthening coordination among NiMet, local governments, traditional institutions and communities.
For the southern axis — including Funtua, Malumfashi, Kafur, Danja, Dandume and Bakori — the 2026 outlook suggests earlier rainfall onset and later cessation, creating favourable conditions for rain-fed agriculture but increasing risks of localized flooding, erosion and post-harvest losses.
The governor said policy responses in the area include flood-smart agricultural practices, improved drainage systems, timely harvest and storage advisories, and climate-informed planning for rural roads and water infrastructure.
He added that Katsina State is institutionalising SCP outputs by translating them into simplified community-level advisories in local languages, integrating them into agricultural extension services, disaster preparedness and health surveillance systems, and aligning them with state budgeting and food security strategies.
“This is how climate science is transformed into climate action,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said climate variability has become a defining factor in modern governance, influencing economic outcomes, national security planning and the protection of lives.
He described the 2026 SCP as a science-to-action document aligned with national priorities and stressed that aviation safety and efficiency depend on credible meteorological data.
According to Keyamo, climate data now functions as economic infrastructure, supporting both flight safety and long-term investment planning. He warned that development efforts not informed by climate science remain vulnerable and unsustainable.
Earlier, the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the agency’s forecasts are designed to support informed decision-making in a rapidly changing climate.
“Climate variability and extreme events are no longer abstract risks. They directly affect livelihoods, food security, infrastructure, and national growth,” Anosike said.
The 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction was officially unveiled by NiMet in Abuja on February 10.
Authorities said the forecast is expected to guide planning decisions across government and the private sector, particularly in aviation, agriculture, disaster preparedness and public health.
