This study examines the spatial and temporal variation of onset and cessation of rainfall and greenness in the North East Arid Zone of Nigeria. Onset and cessation of greenness dates were determined from mean monthly time series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) using Advance Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data for five meteorological stations in the zone for a period of nineteen years (1981-1999). Lowest growing days of six weeks were observed in Nguru (12.53°N, 10.28°E, alt.343 m), Potiskum (11.42°N, 11.02°E, alt.415 m) and Maiduguri (11.51°N, 13.05°E, alt. 354 m), while Yola (12.28°N, 9.14°E, alt.174 m) and Bauchi (10.17°N, 9.49°E, alt.609 m) have growing days of 15 and 16 weeks respectively. Highest rate of greenness of 0.18/month was observed inMaiduguriwhile the lowest rate of green-up of 0.07/month was observed in Bauchi. Similarly, highest rate of senescence (0.08/month) was observed in Bauchi while lowest rate of senescence (0.04/month) was observed in Nguru.