By Hassan Ibrahim
Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has disclosed that based on the 2026 National Meteorological Agency (NiMeT) predictions 12 Local Government Areas would witness 21 days of severe dry season spell in the state.
The affected LGAs includes Itas-Gadau, Jama'are, Katagum, Misau, Giade, Shira, Dambam, Darazo, Ningi, Warji, Gamawa and Zaki.
Director General of SEMA, Mas'ud Aliyu, who made this known Wednesday in Bauchi during 2026 Weather Forecast Sensitization to Critical Stakeholders, said that exercise was meant to bridge the gap between seasonal climate predictions and actionable on-farm decisions.
Aliyu explained, "The 2026 weather forecast we have received presents a unique and alarming paradox. Preliminary data indicates that we are bracing for a 21 days severe dry season spell from June -August that will directly impact agriculture livelihoods across 12 local government areas of the state."
According to him, "This is not just a weather update, it is a warning about potential food insecurity, water scarcity and livestock distress."
The DG also warned residents of the state to prepare for flash floods across the state due to the volume of water despite the dry spell, adding, "However, in a strange twist of nature that we must not ignore, the same models suggests a possibility of localized flash floods even within the dry spell triggered by sudden and violent downpours which the dry soil cannot absorb."
The DG charged traditional rulers, religious leaders, invited experts and MDAs as well as NEDC officials to translate rainfall patterns, dry spell and temperature anomalies into soil-specific advice, crop calendars, economic risk models and the last mile extension messages.
Aliyu stressed that the sensitization exercise was designed to empower stakeholders with the needed knowledge and skills to disseminate the information collectively worked and ensure that no warning language dies at the hall doors
"I prayed that this 2026 season may present challenges/erratic rains, heat stress, or even flood risks. But with scientists from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and other stakeholders support in action from SEMA, we will turn the forecast into resilience," he added.
Earlier in his remarks, Head of Service in Bauchi, Barrister Mohammed Sani Umar, charged Stakeholders to evolve practical solutions to the challenges posed by weather forecast predictions particularly cascading the training to farmers and supporting them with varieties of drought resistant seeds as well as other necessary technical support to salvage the situation.
Umar appealed to residents of the state to take the predictions seriously and prepared for eventualities, particularly embracing suggestions from scientists and experts on farming activities.
Responding to the flash floods, the Head of Service urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and other partners to start providing temporary shelters at the identified areas even before the flood, adding, "if you provide shelter for people you want to relocate them, they will know that you're serious. The NEDC and the government should take this issue very seriously to minimize the humanitarian crisis because it is a routine thing and we shouldn't allow it to repeat itself and expect different results.”
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