There are indications of impending flight cancellations and delays in the aviation sector as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) warns Pilots and Airline Operators to exercise caution over hazardous weather in the dry season.

Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director General of NCAA, gave the warning in a recent statement, indicating there is the likelihood of flight delays, diversions or cancellations where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome minimal operations.

Nuhu said: “Therefore, members of the general public are to take necessary precautions during this time in the planning of their trips so as not to encounter unnecessary flight delays. Winds over 10m and 925hPha are favourable for Dust-Haze propagations into the Northern parts of the country. Stations in the source region, Niger (Goure, Zinder, Maine-Soroa, Diffa, N-Guigmi and 61091 and horizontal visibility between 800m and 6000m.”

“Due to strong winds, the dust in suspension is expected to propagate to some states in the northern part of the country, which will further reduce horizontal visibility, especially over Katsina, Kano, Nguru, Jigawa, Potiskum and Maiduguri in the next 24 hours.

“This information is intended to alert pilots about the nature of weather associated with the dry season in Nigeria, ranging from light/moderate to severe dust haze and sometimes early morning fog, which can sometimes reduce the horizontal visibility to below the aerodrome operating minimally.

“Therefore, members of the general public are to take necessary precautions during this time in the planning of their trips so as not to encounter unnecessary flight delays,” he said.

The warning comes against the backdrop of a statement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) on weather alerting the public on the possibility of deterioration in visibility due to observed dust haze propagated into the country from the source region.