The adverse dusty harmattan condition prevailing in Nigeria would fade out by early March this year, a Nigerian meteorologist said on Thursday.

Ikanyi Nmodu, the Deputy General Manager of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, said that the harmattan condition was a direct result of the movement of the Intercontinental Discontinuation Line to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing the dusty wind from the Sahara and cold wind from Western Europe to reach the country.

The dusty condition which peaked in January would "fade out in early March" with different effects on Nigerians depending on their locations, he said.

According to Nmodu, the condition would not affect the pilgrims returning to the country by air, the bigger aircraft being used for the hajj operations was capable of landing in low visibility conditions.

He said that the agency was issuing 72-hour weather condition bulletin to airline operators so that the operators could make alternative landing arrangement for their aircraft.

The annual harmattan weather is accompanied with dusty condition forcing the cancellations of flights.

Source: Xinhua