Authors : Mai Bukar, Adama; Adepoju, Matthew Olumide; James, Godstime Kadiri; Oyewumi, Ademuyiwa; Idris, Halima Ohunene; Salawudeen, Fatima; Odeh, Augustine Abah

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/vvst6ezd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep559

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Drought is a recurring environmental hazard in Northern Nigeria, with significant implications for agriculture, water resources, food security and livelihoods. Variations in rainfall patterns and increasing climate variability have heightened the need for effective drought monitoring and assessment. This study assesses the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation and meteorological drought across North Central, North East and North West Nigeria using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Precipitation data were processed using Google Earth Engine following the SPI approach and further analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The analysis examined precipitation variability and SPI patterns across the three northern geopolitical regions. Results indicate considerable spatial and temporal variability in both precipitation and drought conditions. The three regions experienced varying patterns of wet and dry conditions, demonstrating that drought characteristics are not spatially uniform across Northern Nigeria. The findings highlight differences in the occurrence and intensity of meteorological drought among the regions and demonstrate the usefulness of SPI and geospatial techniques for monitoring drought dynamics. The study provides useful information for improving drought early warning, agricultural planning, water-resource management and disaster risk reduction. It also emphasizes the need for region-specific drought management strategies that consider local variations in precipitation and drought conditions across Northern Nigeria.

Keywords : Drought, Standardized Precipitation Index, Precipitation Variability, Northern Nigeria, Google Earth Engine, Remote Sensing, GIS, Climate Variability.

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