‘Heavy rain will persist till July’

ALTHOUGH many Nigerians seek respite from the heavy downpour that continues to hit some states in the Federation, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has asked the citizenry to brace up for more rains in the coming days, forecasting that the rains might not subside until the third week of July.However, NIMET has dismissed claims that a three-month, non-stop rain would hit Lagos, where residents are currently reeling under a deluge.

The Lagos State government had on March 27, 2012 alerted residents to prepare for 236 days of persistent rainfall this year, including stormy downpours that would uproot trees, cables and house roofs.

Deputy General Manager in charge of Weather Forecasting and Climate Research, NIMET, Abuja, Cyprian Okoloye, told The Guardian yesterday that there was nothing unusual about the over nine-hour rain that hit Lagos between 11.00 p.m. on Wednesday and 8.00 a.m. on Thursday.

But Okoloye dismissed suggestions that Lagos might be submerged by rain if the rain continued.

He said: “Right now, the Monsoon flow pattern is over the West Coast of Africa where it brings a lot of rainfall over the coast. So right now it is deep. The whole country is having rain. In Abuja, the rain has been heavy and in most part of the South. We are in the peak period for rain.

“It will continue up till the third week of July before we will have a respite. There will be temporary relief with drizzles. Then there will be a little dry season afterwards; what people call August break.

“This Monsoon flow is very deep over the coast of West Africa and will continue to bring rain. I can tell you it will continue at interval. So, expect flash floods here and there.”

Also, the Lagos State government has again told residents to be prepared for more heavy rainfall accompanied with severe windstorm in the next two weeks.

Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, issued the alert yesterday while monitoring impact of yesterday’s rain in the state.

Bello particularly advised residents of Eti-Osa, Badiya, Amukoko, Makoko, Iwaya, Ajegunle, Owode, Agiliti, among others, to vacate these areas during this period.

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed its condolence to the parents of the 10 school pupils swept away on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The ACF also condoled with the state government over the incident, which occurred following a heavy rainfall while the pupils were in class.

In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Anthony Sani, wrote: “Arewa Consultative Forum has received the news of the loss of 10 pupils to flood in Lafia with heavy heart. More distressing was the circumstance under which the children were swept away while attending classes.

“While condoling with the people and the government of the state over this tragic loss of precious lives and pray to God to repose the souls of the lost kids and provide the government and their families the fortitude to bear the losses, the forum urges governments to ensure people build houses and institutions according to approved layout and building plans as well as ensure that those who keep watch over others take their responsibilities much more seriously in order to avoid repeat of such unsavoury incidents.”

Okoloye said Director General, NIMET, Anthony Anuforom, had at the start of the year given a clear picture of rainfall pattern for 2012, in a paper titled “Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) and Socioeconomic Implications for Nigeria for year 2012.”

According to the SRP, “overall, there is likely to be normal onset of rains in 2012 in most parts of the country, onset dates between late February (in the southern-most part of the country) and last week of June (in the northernmost part of the country) are predicted. A near normal annual rainfall amount is predicted varying from 300 to 1100mm in the northern half of the country and from 1200 to 2700mm in the South.”

Okoloye urged Nigerians to “listen to weather forecast for cities across Nigeria and this can be obtained from our website. The Central Forecast Office on daily basis publishes two to three days’ weather predictions for state capitals and beyond.”

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