By David Arome
Many Nigerians remain in shock as the Harmattan season arrives without its usual accompanying cold. This is nothing but climate change knocking on our doorstep. The traditional features of Harmattan, once defined by chilly mornings and cold, hazy nights, are fast fading. The loss of that familiar biting cold is gradually turning into history as climate change intensifies.
Tea Makers (Mai-Shayi) Lament
In Changanga, Niger State, the bubbling Mai-Shayi spots that once drew crowds at dawn and after sunset are becoming deserted. It is no longer business as usual for roadside tea makers and bread vendors, as low patronage now threatens a trade that thrived for decades.
“Apart from the unusual Harmattan, hikes in food prices have also forced people to seek cheaper alternatives, reducing demand,” laments Musa Ibrahim, a tea and bread vendor in Changanga. According to him, his daily average sales have crashed from ₦35,000 to about ₦10,000. “Now I am struggling to meet my family’s needs,” he says.
Musa notes that the hardship is widespread among vendors. “Some of my colleagues have taken up menial jobs to sustain themselves and their families,” he recalls.
Harmattan Memories
Residents in Minna, the state capital of Niger State, share similar concerns. “Gone are the days when you couldn’t dare step out without a thick sweater, headgear, and socks,” noted Jennifer Adams. She remembers how even taking a bath in the early hours was a daunting task because of the cold. “But now, the reverse is the case,” she adds.
Across communities in the state, the vanishing cold of Harmattan is more than a change in weather; it is a warning sign of livelihoods slipping away and climate realities drawing closer than ever.
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) Explains
Although NIMET January 2026 reports on its official Facebook page indicate a slight return to chilly nights, the reality of climate change’s impact on the harmattan season is very feasible.
According to NiMET, between Monday, 5th, and Tuesday, 6th January 2026, temperatures are expected to drop, with cooler days and gently chilly nights and early mornings, bringing relief from the recent heat spell.
NiMET advises the public to stay tuned to the daily weather forecast available at the organisation’s website: www.nimet.gov.ng, to support effective planning and decision-making.
Studies Further Validate
A study analysis carried out by Folorunsho et al. on Harmattan events from 1961 to 2020 in Northwest Nigeria, precisely Kaduna, Kano, Gusau, Katsina, and Sokoto, reveals that severe cold events still occur but show variable trends across decades, with some increase in recent decades and regional differences indicating possible climate influences on temperature extremes.
Similarly, decadal analysis from 1991 to 2020 shows mixed trends in the Harmattan season, with some states like Kano, Katsina, and Sokoto witnessing increases in cool episodes, while Kaduna and Gusau experience declines, a potential indicator linked to broader climatic shifts.
Harmattan is driven by northeasterly trade winds transporting Saharan dust. In Northeast Nigeria, wind speed and seasonal changes play a key role in how much dust is in the air and how far we can see, showing how air movement affects local climate patterns. The harmattan season usually lasts from November to March.
Further research across the Sahel and West Africa indicates a shift in precipitation and atmospheric circulation, which indirectly shapes the onset and character of dry seasons like Harmattan. Changing rainfall patterns and temperature trends are part of this broader climate change signal.
Climate Experts Speak
Climate experts note that harmattan has become less predictable, with the late onset of the 2025 harmattan in northern Nigeria, followed by reduced intensity and subdued dust. Experts attribute the alteration in harmattan to disrupted atmospheric circulation influenced by climate change.
“Climate change contributes to changes in weather patterns, potentially causing variations in the timing and intensity,” noted Dr Rose Alani, Lead, Air Quality Monitoring Research Group, University of Lagos.
“We are experiencing a shift in weather patterns, and this year’s mild harmattan is a reflection of broader climate variability,” said Prof. Muhammad Yayo Karage of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State.
Prof. Muhammed explains that the mild harmattan season is attributed to the effect of climate change. He further stated that the lower-than-usual volume of rainfall recorded during the year may have played a key role in the weakened intensity of the dry, dusty winds typically associated with harmattan.
Climate change is here to stay, and the Harmattan is more unpredictable than ever. Stay informed; checking the weather forecasts is the best way to stay safe.
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