……commends NiMet for continuously improving the quality of its services
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet has successfully presented its Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, 2022 to the public.
The theme of the SCP presentation is: ‘Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery’.
The event attracted ministers from across the different sectors of the economy, their permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies, various organizations, stakeholders, schools amongst others.
Benefits of the SCP was stressed by the Director General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu to include among others, help farmers improve their yields, increase and improve the level of preparedness by Emergency Management Agencies, complement the flood prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and served as an advisory tool for many stakeholders at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.
He emphasized that, the Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s flagship and that, they are excited to push this vision and help in the recovery of the economy after the trying phase where the global pandemic affected some of the gains made previously through Agriculture.
“We are all living witnesses to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and how many economies have struggled. In Nigeria, one of the pathways for economic recovery is agriculture. However, many of the agricultural practices are climate dependent and largely rain fed”.
Prof. Matazu called for strong collaboration with organisations of Government at all levels, as well as non-governmental organisations, feedbacks and necessary input to help NiMet improve the document and serve them better.
The Minister of Aviatio, Senator Hadi Sirika in his address of welcome said, this year’s theme of the SCP is apt and should be fully supported.
Sirika emphasized that, the importance of the SCP cannot be over-emphasized, adding that, the SCP contains information in; Onset and Cessation dates of the cropping season, length of the growing period and rainfall amount.
Others are; temperature forecasts for the hot season (January to April), dry spell and Little Dry Season, malaria and Meningitis Vigilance, and socio Economic Implications of the predictions.
“Since becoming an Agency in 2003, NiMet has considered it a necessity to all stakeholders across various sectors to provide timely, useful, and accurate weather and climate forecast/advisories to Nigerians in fulfilment of its establishment mandate”.
According to him, concerted effort is annually being made by NiMet, to ensure that the public presentation of this vital document is held before the start of the rainy season to allow adequate planning and policy formulation.
Explaining further, the Aviation Minister said, in recognition of the importance of the seasonal climate predictions and other Early Warning products and services, the Agency is being empowered and positioned for more strategic partnership.
“We have through our collaboration with universities and other Higher Institutions increased from 54 to over 200 meteorological stations, and this is still ongoing in all parts of the country. It is our hope that this innovation will solidify the process of data gathering which is important to the derivation of these products and services”.
He commended the Management and Staff of NiMet for continuously improving the quality of its services, sustaining the momentum of timely presentation of SCP within the first quarter of the year and the innovation of the down-scaling activities.
Sirika expressed optimism that, the repealed NiMet Bill that he is spearheading will provide greater latitudes of operations, including regulatory framework for the Agency to appear tall for effective weather and climate services to achieve sustainable development in the country.
In their various goodwill messages, Ministers of Information and Culture and that of State for Power, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Prince Goddy Agba say, NiMet has performed excellently in the discharge of its duties in the air transport, agriculture and marine.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “These predictions are not only helpful to civil aviation but also important to agriculture, it is also important to the oil and gas industry and so also important to each and everyone of us because a lot of our economy depends largely what the weather says. And with the global warming and climate change where you can no longer predict what is going to happen in terms of weather. This predictions will not only help the aviation industry even the insurance company so am happy to be here today”.
According to the Minister of State for Power, “As a farmer I know the essence of rain and climate to production of agricultural produce, without adequate projection of rains and climate you wouldn’t be able to grow or harvest, with these predictions it gives us adequate time to prepare before the next season, planting or harvesting season”.
