NiMet Dust Haze Threatens Nigerian Aviation: Will Flights Face Delays?

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 19, 2026 at 06:40 AM•3 min read

SAFETY

NiMet Dust Haze Threatens Nigerian Aviation: Will Flights Face Delays?

NiMet forecasts a three-day dust haze across Nigeria, reducing horizontal visibility to 2km-5km, prompting the NCAA to warn airlines of potential flight delays and cancellations.

Key Points

1NiMet forecasts a three-day dust haze from Monday to Wednesday across Nigeria's northern and central regions.
2Horizontal visibility is expected to drop to 2km–5km, with localized areas potentially seeing less than 1,000m, severely impacting flight operations.
3The NCAA has issued an advisory urging pilots and airlines to obtain specific weather reports and prepare for potential flight delays, diversions, or cancellations.
4Southern states face a risk of afternoon/evening thunderstorms and light rain, which also requires caution from pilots.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a three-day weather outlook. This forecast predicts a mix of dust haze and sunshine across Nigeria. The outlook covers the period from Monday through Wednesday. This weather pattern is typical of the seasonal harmattan conditions.

Aviation Safety Advisory

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has responded to the NiMet report. The NCAA urges pilots and airline operators to exercise maximum caution. This is due to the anticipated reduced horizontal visibility. The aviation regulator stressed that safety is paramount.

Operators must obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet. This step is vital for effective operational planning. Where visibility falls below prescribed minima, flights may be delayed. Diversions or outright cancellations are also possible.

Regional Forecast Details

NiMet's forecast indicates the most severe conditions in the North.

Northern Region: Moderate dust haze is expected over parts of Kebbi and Kano States on Monday. Horizontal visibility is anticipated to be between 2km and 5km. The rest of the northern states will see sunny and hazy skies.
Central Region: Moderate dust haze is also forecast for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State. Visibility here is also expected to be 2km to 5km. Localized visibility could drop to less than or equal to 1,000m in the North Central. This low visibility poses a significant risk to Nigerian aviation operations.
Southern Region: Sunny skies with cloud patches are expected. There are prospects of afternoon or evening thunderstorms and light rain. These conditions are forecast for parts of Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

Operational and Passenger Impact

The reduced horizontal visibility can obscure runways and airfield lighting. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult for pilots. Air Traffic Control (ATC) may limit or suspend services during thick dust haze. This is a standard measure to reduce aviation risk.

Airline operators must ensure compliance with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs). Part 19 of the regulations addresses passenger welfare during flight delays and cancellations. Passengers are urged to remain patient during this period. Safety remains the highest priority for all flight operations.

NiMet also advised the public about health risks. People with respiratory issues like asthma should take precautions. The dust particles remain suspended in the atmosphere. The public can get updates from the NiMet website at www.nimet.gov.ng. The NCAA's advisory can be found on their official channels, such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority website.

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