The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thunderstorms and rain across Nigeria from Monday to Wednesday.

In its weather outlook issued on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms with rain in parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, and Kano States in the northern region.

The agency also indicated that thunderstorms with rain are expected later in the day over parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.

“In the North-central region, morning thunderstorms with rain are anticipated
over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

“In the afternoon/evening hours, thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, and Benue States.

“In the southern region, cloudy atmosphere is expected with prospects of morning rain over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom,” it said.

The agency anticipated rain showers over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa, later in the day.

For Tuesday, in the northern region, morning thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Taraba.

“In the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Katsina States.

“In the North-central region, thunderstorms with rains are over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa States during the morning
period,” it said.

The agency forecasted thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall later in the day across parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau.

For the morning hours, it predicted thunderstorms in parts of the southern region, including Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.

Later in the day, rainfall is expected in parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa.

NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms on Wednesday, with rainfall expected over parts of Zamfara, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Taraba.

For the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by rain are anticipated in parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Adamawa.

“In the North-central region, thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger and Benue during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Nasarawa, Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger.

“In the southern region, morning rains are anticipated over parts of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom,” it said.

The agency anticipated rainfall across the entire region during the afternoon or evening hours.

According to NiMet, strong winds may precede the rains in areas likely to experience thunderstorms, and the public is advised to take appropriate precautions.

It also urged people to secure loose objects to prevent accidents and advised against driving during heavy rainfall.

“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.

“Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website www.nimet.gov.ng,” it read.

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is set to appear in court on Tuesday, following a summons.

Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed this on Sunday.

Idahosa, however, noted that it remains uncertain whether the Federal Government intends to formally arraign her on that day.

He emphasized that, regardless of the government’s plans, Akpoti-Uduaghan will abide by the court’s directives as a law-abiding citizen.

The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, has filed criminal charges against the senator.

She is accused of making defamatory statements during both a live television broadcast and a private phone call.

The alleged remarks were reportedly directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

According to the charge filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, and marked CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly claimed—during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels TV on April 3, 2025—that Akpabio and Bello had discussed plans to assassinate her.

“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night— to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” the charge quotes her as saying.

The government has also accused Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of making additional defamatory statements during a phone conversation on March 27, 2025.

During the call with a woman identified as Dr. Sandra Duru, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was involved in organ harvesting linked to the late Iniubong Umoren, allegedly for the benefit of his sick wife.

Akpabio, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, and four other individuals have been named as key witnesses in the case.

In a telephone interview, her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), reiterated that the legal team is fully prepared to defend Akpoti-Uduaghan in court.

“If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client.

“The issue of protest is irrelevant to us — we are lawyers, and our focus is on defending charges we believe can be contested. Protests are the domain of civil societies and others in that terrain,” Idahosa said.

“Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken. Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category,” He further stated.

When questioned about the likelihood of an arraignment, Idahosa stated, “We don’t know. We saw a notice of amended charges. We don’t know what they are trying to do. They’ve amended the charges once and could do so again—it’s their decision.”

The Federal Government’s ambitious Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle initiative, launched to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs following the removal of petrol subsidies, has encountered significant challenges across Nigeria, threatening the program’s goal of transitioning one million vehicles to CNG by 2027.

Reports from various sources indicate that inadequate infrastructure, long refueling queues, and safety concerns have stalled the initiative, leaving commuters and transport operators frustrated.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), introduced by President Bola Tinubu in October 2023, aimed to provide a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel by deploying 5,500 CNG-powered buses and tricycles, 100 electric buses, and over 20,000 conversion kits, backed by a N100 billion investment from the N500 billion palliative budget.

The program promised reduced transportation costs, improved air quality, and job creation through the establishment of conversion workshops and refueling stations.

However, nearly two years after its launch, the initiative is grappling with significant operational hurdles.

According to recent reports, one of the primary issues plaguing the scheme is the severe shortage of CNG refueling stations.

In many states, particularly in northern Nigeria, commuters have complained about the absence of operational CNG buses and tricycles, despite promises made by the Tinubu administration.

Long queues at the few existing refueling stations have forced many drivers to revert to petrol, undermining the program’s cost-saving objectives.

A social media post on X highlighted the frustration, stating, “People can’t waste six hours refueling—they’re reverting to petrol.”

Industry stakeholders have also raised concerns about the lack of adequate infrastructure and trained personnel.

The limited number of refueling stations—only 60 planned nationwide by the end of 2024—cannot support the growing number of converted vehicles.

Additionally, the high cost of conversion, ranging from N700,000 to N1.8 million for private vehicles, has deterred many Nigerians, despite the government’s provision of free conversions for commercial vehicles registered with transport unions like RTEAN and NURTW.

Critics argue that the initiative was rolled out without sufficient planning or public awareness campaigns, exposing citizens to potential safety risks due to the handling of CNG cylinders.

reports say that the N786 billion investment in the CNG program is now at risk, with some commentators alleging that the initiative was poorly designed and primarily served to benefit political insiders rather than the public.

“It was never designed to succeed. It was designed to enrich the pockets of criminals in Aso Rock,” one X user claimed, reflecting widespread public skepticism.

Despite these challenges, the government remains optimistic. Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director of PCNGI, recently emphasized the initiative’s potential, projecting a $10 billion market value for CNG in Nigeria over the next five years.

The government has partnered with private sector players and launched a N10 billion Credit Access for Light and Mobility (CALM) Fund to support conversions, alongside a “convert now, pay later” portal to ease financial burdens.

However, these measures have yet to address the immediate infrastructural gaps.

Stakeholders in the transport and automotive sectors have called for urgent action to salvage the initiative. Suggestions include increasing the number of refueling stations, enhancing safety protocols, and subsidizing conversion costs for private vehicle owners.

Without these interventions, experts warn that the CNG program risks becoming another failed government project, further eroding public trust.

For now, the dream of a gas-powered vehicle revolution remains stalled, with commuters left waiting for solutions to the nation’s persistent infrastructure woes.