This study investigates wind speed characteristics and its energy potential in Makurdi, in order to assess the prospect and availability of wind energy for electricity generation in the region. Wind speed data measured at 10 m were obtained from the Nigeria Meteorology Agency, Lagos. The data spanned from 1961-2014. Weibull distribution function was employed to determine wind energy potential in Makurdi. Results reveal that the period of highest potential for wind harvest was the peak of dry season (i.e. April) and that for lowest yield was the onset of dry season (i.e. November). Wind speed characteristics used for wind energy estimate was determined. Furthermore, high values of Weibull shape and scale parameters obtained in this study indicate the availability of wind speed and the windy nature of Makurdi. The wind power density of 86.85 W/m 2 suggests that Makurdi wind can be used for electricity generation. Besides, monthly and annual mean wind speeds were above the minimum values (3.0-4.0 m/s) required for most wind turbines to operate. The wind profile and its characteristics depict Makurdi as a suitable site for wind power generation. Hence, there is huge prospect of wind power generation in Makurdi and its environs.

This study analyzed the spatial distribution and temporal trends of precipitation and its extremes over Nigeria from 1979-2013 using climate indices, in order to assess climatic extremes in the country. Daily precipitation data used in this study were obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Lagos. The study used climate indices developed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection (ETCCDI) for assessing extreme precipitation. Sen's slope estimator and Mann-Kendall trend test were employed in data analysis. Results revealed that precipitation and its extremes varied spatially across Nigeria. Significant negative trends were observed in most of the precipitation indices for the period under study. Furthermore, significant downward trends were observed in the CWD (Consecutive Wet Day) while the CDD (Consecutive Dry Day) showed significant upward trends in all the regions. These spatial and temporal changes indicate that Nigeria's climate is trending towards a warmer and drier condition, which could be attributed to global warming-induced climate change; which altered historical rainfall patterns thereby leading to extreme events. The findings of this study have provided useful information in understanding the extreme events that are assumed by the general populace to be normal recurrent events in Nigeria. The results of the analysis of yearly and decadal changes in precipitation totals and extreme values for the last 35 years suggest the likelihood of severe impacts on water resources, agriculture, and water-sensitive economic activities.

Over the years, several attempts were made to establish the possible link by which solar activity influenced climate change. However, the physical mechanism for these relationships has been the major challenge. In this research, we investigate the relationship between solar/geomagnetic activity and cosmic rays, the connection between cosmic rays and cloud covers and finally, cloud covers and climatic parameters. This is the proposed physical mechanism used in this study to investigate how solar activity influenced climate change in Nigeria. Sunspot number, aa index, galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), rainfall and maximum temperature data were used in this study. The time period under investigation in this study spanned for 63 years (1950-2012). Spearman's rank correlation technique was employed in analyzing the data. Results reveal that sunspot number and aa index varied in the opposite direction with GCRs based on the 11-year solar cycle. This inverse relationship was confirmed from the correlation analysis. This depicts that solar and geomagnetic activities modulate cosmic rays penetrating into the Earth's atmosphere. Furthermore, the relationship between cosmic rays and cloud covers is yet to be fully ascertained in this study. This has limited the proposed physical mechanism that this study hoped to establish. However, the variations of cloud covers with rainfall and temperature show that changes in cloud covers are associated with changes in rainfall and temperature. This study has given useful information on the possible links by which solar activity could influence climate change.