Climate change in Jos: unpredictable rains and warmer harmattan
In my local community, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria, which is a highland plateau, we usually experience cold Harmattan and cool dry seasons. In recent years, this pattern has changed.
In 2024, the rainy season started normally, but between July and August there was little to no rain. The rains returned in the last days of August and continued through September and October, then stopped. This affected farming, as many crops had poor yields. In 2025 however, the rainy season was normal, but the Harmattan has become warmer than usual.,the weather had still remained hot in November and December. At the beginning of January, there was no cold weather. Only in the past two days have temperatures started to drop and return closer to normal.
These changes show clear signs of climate change in my community, even though conversations about it are still very rare outside places like universities and only a few local initiatives and individuals are bringing up conversations about climate change and global warming.