Ibadan, Jan. 26, 2026 (NAN) A Climatologist, Prof. Ibidun Adelekan, has said that unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change poses serious risks to farmers in Nigeria.
Adelekan of the Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan, that climate change had resulted in unpredictable rainfall patterns and increased flooding.
“When rainfall becomes unpredictable, farmers can no longer rely on traditional planting calendars. Flooding can destroy crops, damage farmland and threaten food security,” she said.
The expert called for better urban planning, improved drainage infrastructure, environmental protection and increased public awareness to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Nigeria.
Adelekan said that climate change had significantly altered Nigeria’s weather patterns, leading to delayed harmattan, heavier rainfall, rising temperatures and increased flooding across the country.
She said long-established seasonal patterns were no longer reliable, posing growing risks to farmers, urban residents and coastal communities.
According to her, the Harmattan season, which used to begin as early as November in Southern Nigeria, is now setting in much later.
Adelekan recalled that in the early 1980s, Harmattan conditions started by mid-November, particularly during graduation periods at the University of Ibadan.
“We were almost at the end of January before the Harmattan was felt in Southern Nigeria.
“This late onset has been the experience over the last three years,” she said.
The don explained that Nigeria’s climate is largely influenced by the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD), the boundary between dry Northeasterly winds from the Sahara and moisture-laden Southwesterly winds from the Atlantic Ocean.
“The position and movement of the ITD determine whether an area experiences Harmattan or rainfall.
“What we are seeing now is a delayed southward movement of the ITD, which explains why Harmattan is coming later than it used to,” she said.
The climatologist also said that rainfall patterns across the country have changed remarkably, even in southern Nigeria where rains traditionally begin early.
“Rainfall is now starting later than before, and at the same time, rainfalls have become more intense. We now have fewer rainy days but heavier rainfall,” she said.
Adelekan added that the combination of intense rainfall and rapid urban development has worsened flooding in many Nigerian cities.
“With more buildings, roads and concrete surfaces, rainwater can no longer infiltrate the soil as it used to.
“Instead, it flows rapidly as runoff, overwhelming drainage systems that were constructed decades ago when rainfall was less intense,” she explained.
The don further identified blocked drainages, caused by indiscriminate waste disposal, as a major contributor to urban flooding.
“In the past, there was less plastic waste. Today, plastic bottles and other refuse clog drainage channels, reducing their capacity and causing flash floods even after moderate rainfall,” she said.
The climatologist observed a major shift in weather conditions in northern Nigeria, which was previously associated mainly with drought.
“Historically, the Northern part of Nigeria was known for dry conditions and drought.
“Today, we are seeing more flooding incidents in places that rarely experienced flooding in the past,” she said.
Adelekan explained that climate change and global warming have intensified the hydrological cycle, leading to increased evaporation, cloud formation and heavier rainfall.
Rising temperatures, she said, were also becoming more noticeable across the country.
“We are having more extremely hot days than before. People are experiencing higher temperatures, especially during the dry season,” Adelekan said.
The expert attributed global warming to a combination of factors, including deforestation, urban expansion, increased use of generators, industrial activities and greenhouse gas emissions.
“When vegetation is removed, less carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere. At the same time, human activities release more greenhouse gases, trapping heat and warming the atmosphere,” Adelekan said.(NAN)
