Traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, farmers and residents across parts of Yobe State have intensified prayers for rainfall as an unusual delay in the 2026 rainy season continues to disrupt agricultural activities and threaten rural livelihoods.
The Emir of Bade, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Umar Suleiman, on Sunday led thousands of worshippers in a special prayer for rain at the Tanda prayer ground in Gashu’a. The spiritual gathering, which entered its second day, drew a large crowd, including the Chairman of Bade Local Government Area, district and ward heads, religious leaders, community representatives and residents from surrounding communities.
The congregation collectively prayed for Allah’s mercy, asking for timely and beneficial rainfall that would revive farmlands, ensure bumper harvests, improve food production and protect communities from drought and other environmental challenges.
Emir Calls for Faith, Unity and Repentance
Addressing worshippers after the prayers, the Emir urged residents to remain steadfast in worship, seek Allah’s forgiveness and strengthen unity within their communities.
He emphasized that sincere repentance, peaceful coexistence and compassion among people are virtues that attract divine mercy, encouraging residents not to lose hope despite the delayed rains.
The Emir also appealed to farmers to remain patient while continuing to prepare their farmlands in anticipation of improved weather conditions.
Islamic Scholars Lead Separate Prayer Sessions
In a similar development, the Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Yobe State, Sheikh Haruna Ibrahim Shina, led another congregation in special prayers at the Izala Mosque along Yusufari Road in Gashu’a.
The worshippers offered prayers seeking Allah’s intervention for adequate rainfall, successful farming activities and continued peace across Yobe State and Nigeria.
Another respected Islamic scholar, Mallam Sagiru Dake Zango, also conducted a separate prayer session where participants prayed for abundant rainfall, increased agricultural productivity and protection against natural disasters.
The simultaneous prayer sessions reflected growing concern among residents over the prolonged dry spell affecting many farming communities.
Delayed Rainfall Slows Agricultural Activities
Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for thousands of households in Yobe State, making the delayed onset of rainfall a major concern for both farmers and agricultural workers.
Field observations indicate that farming activities across several communities have slowed considerably as many farmers are reluctant to commence large-scale cultivation until rainfall becomes more consistent.
Unlike previous years, when rainfall would normally become well established across most parts of the North-East by late July, weather conditions this year have remained inconsistent, forcing many farmers to postpone planting.
The uncertainty has increased fears of reduced agricultural output if the rainy season shortens significantly.
Farm Labourers Face Growing Economic Hardship
The delayed farming season is also affecting casual farm labourers who rely on daily agricultural work to support their families.
A visit to the popular labour gathering point opposite the Family Support Hospital in Damaturu revealed dozens of workers waiting from early morning in hopes of being hired by farmers.
Many eventually returned home without securing employment because farming operations remain limited.
One labourer explained that during previous years, they would already be engaged on farms almost every day at this stage of the season.
According to him, the current situation has drastically reduced employment opportunities, leaving many households without their usual source of income.
For many rural families, daily farm labour provides essential income for food, transportation, healthcare and children’s education, making the delayed rains an economic challenge beyond agriculture alone.
Farmers Count Losses from Previous Season
Beyond the current weather concerns, many farmers say they are still recovering from financial losses suffered during the previous harvest season.
Despite recording good harvests last year, many producers were unable to recover production costs because market prices for major food crops dropped significantly during harvest.
One farmer, Bukar Abba, said the combination of last year’s poor market returns and this year’s delayed rainfall has placed many farming households under severe financial pressure.
He explained that numerous farmers invested heavily in seeds, fertilizer and labour during the previous season but earned far less than expected due to falling commodity prices.
Rising Production Costs Compound Challenges
Another farmer, Adamu Mustapha, highlighted additional obstacles affecting agricultural production.
According to him, the increasing cost of fertilizer has made essential farm inputs unaffordable for many smallholder farmers.
He also pointed to rising transportation expenses driven by higher fuel prices, noting that moving agricultural inputs and harvested produce has become significantly more expensive.
In addition, persistent farmer-herder conflicts in some rural communities continue to discourage cultivation in certain locations, further affecting food production.
Agricultural experts have consistently identified these factors as major constraints to increasing food security across northern Nigeria.
Climate Change Raises Fresh Concerns
Climate experts have repeatedly warned that climate change is making weather patterns increasingly unpredictable across Nigeria.
While some regions continue to experience destructive flooding caused by excessive rainfall, others face prolonged dry spells and delayed rainy seasons that disrupt planting calendars.
These changing weather conditions are creating new challenges for farmers who traditionally rely on predictable rainfall to determine planting and harvesting periods.
Agricultural specialists have emphasized the importance of expanding irrigation systems, promoting climate-smart farming practices, improving access to weather forecasts and supporting farmers with affordable agricultural inputs to reduce the impact of climate variability.
Need for Coordinated Response
As residents continue to pray for rainfall, stakeholders say practical interventions will also be necessary to strengthen agricultural resilience.
Experts recommend increased investment in irrigation infrastructure, improved access to subsidized fertilizer and improved seeds, agricultural insurance, rural extension services and better rural security to encourage farming activities.
Such measures, combined with timely rainfall, could help protect livelihoods, boost food production and improve economic stability in farming communities across Yobe State and the wider North-East region.
For now, many residents remain hopeful that sustained rainfall will soon arrive, allowing farmers to begin cultivation and restoring employment opportunities for thousands of rural households whose livelihoods depend almost entirely on agriculture.