El Niño: Prepare for heat wave, Ekiti tells farmers

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji.

The Ekiti State Government has urged farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to prepare for possible weather variations associated with the forecast strong El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to intensify towards the end of 2026 and persist into early 2027.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Ebenezer Ojo, gave the advice while drawing attention to advisories issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and international climate institutions.

Ojo, in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Monday, described El Niño as a naturally occurring climate phenomenon characterised by abnormal warming of sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

He said the phenomenon could influence global weather patterns, triggering extreme temperatures, irregular rainfall, prolonged dry spells and, in some regions, heavy rainfall.

He, however, cautioned against treating the development as an automatic indication of nationwide drought or reduced rainfall in Nigeria, noting that its actual impact would depend on regional atmospheric conditions and other interacting climate factors.

The permanent secretary said, “The agricultural sector can experience irregular rainfall, higher temperatures, reduced soil moisture and changes in planting conditions, with possible consequences for crop development, livestock productivity and food supply.”

Ojo advised farmers in the state to follow official weather forecasts and agricultural advisories closely, warning them against adjusting planting schedules solely on the basis of global El Niño projections without consulting local weather information and agricultural extension officers.

He also urged them to adopt climate-smart practices, improve water management, conserve soil moisture and protect crops and livestock from excessive heat and other weather-related risks.

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The permanent secretary called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, meteorological institutions, agricultural extension services and emergency management authorities to ensure that weather information and early-warning messages reached farmers on time.

He stressed that “proactive monitoring, effective communication and adequate preparedness were essential to protecting agricultural investments, safeguarding livelihoods and sustaining food production amid emerging climate challenges.”

Ojo urged farmers and members of the public in Ekiti to “remain calm but vigilant and to rely on verified updates from NiMet and other relevant authorities rather than unsubstantiated information on social media.”

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to sustainable agricultural development, food security and support for farmers through relevant policies, interventions and timely access to agricultural information.

El Niño is part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, a recurring climate pattern involving changes in sea-surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions over the tropical Pacific. Although it originates in the Pacific Ocean, it can influence weather conditions across different parts of the world, including temperature and rainfall patterns.

In its October 2026 climate update, the World Meteorological Organisation said the phenomenon was expected to strengthen ahead of a forecast peak in December, increasing the likelihood of above-average temperatures across large parts of the globe and shifting rainfall patterns. It warned that the changes could raise the risk of drought and flooding in different regions.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in its October 8 outlook, also projected that a strong-to-very-strong El Niño would likely persist through January to March 2027.

However, the climate pattern does not produce identical effects everywhere. Its influence on West Africa varies, making local and seasonal forecasts important for agricultural planning. NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction provides state-specific information on expected rainfall and temperature patterns to guide farmers and other weather-sensitive sectors.