HMA and Indian High Mission to Geneva overseeing MoU signing between NiMet and Indian Met Service in Geneva
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has attributed the growth of Meteorological development in Nigeria to the strong synergy and support between the Political Class and the Expert.
He said, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) under the leadership of Prof. Mansur Matazu, had demonstrated commitment to excellence by judicious utilisation of resources, broad stakeholders’ engagements, and result-oriented goals with clearly detailed regular reporting.
Speaking at the 76th World Session of the Meteorological Organization, WMO, Executive Council in Geneva, Switzerland and signing of MoU between Nigeria and India, the minister said, NiMet had grown in size, visibility and relevance, not only in Nigerian but in the region and indeed globally.
All these, he said, are signs that they can get it right with strong commitment and political support in the NMHSs.
“We have also encouraged NiMet in pursuing PPE. This is exactly what we are doing at the Ministry of Aviation. Clearly, Government funding will never be enough”.
Sirika explained some new products introduced by the Agency to include, Seasonal Climate Prediction, including its Summary for Policy Makers and translated version, the State of the Climate in Nigeria, Climate and Health Bulletin, Hydrometeorological bulletin.
Others are Agrometeorological bulletin, Extreme Weather Events Bulletin, Marine meteorological bulletin, 3-days Impact based Forecast and many more on different timescales and validity.
According to him, these products among others are tailored services and have generated lots of interest within the nation up to the President Personally inaugurating a national Meteorological Institute of Science and Technology in his home State and in his honour.
He noted that, there is also increased inter-Agency synergy along the Climate Services Value Chain, bringing together the meteorological, hydrological, disaster management and all responders to develop and practice Multi-hazard Early Warning System for All Nigerians.
“NiMet forecasts provide basis for the Annual Flood Outlook and Disaster Preparedness in Nigeria by both Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and National Emergency Management Agency (who are both in two separate Ministries of Governments)”.
“The Agency has provided interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Malawi in terms of Capacity Building”, he added.
