DG NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu delivering a speech at the SCP 2022 presentation in Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has applauded the contributions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet to the development of agriculture in the country.
He said, the weather predictions and forecast by NiMet had greatly helped the various sectors of the economy to thrive and promote safety like in the air transport industry.
In his goodwill message at the presentation of the Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, 2022 in Abuja today, the Information Minister stressed that, these predictions are not only helpful to civil aviation but also important to agriculture, oil and gas industry and and everyone.
“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”.
Also in his goodwill messages, the Minister of State for Power, Prince Giddy Abba, while commending the NiMet DG for a job well done in alerting the sectors of the economy on weather matters and farmers in the country have benefited immensely as regards better yields.
“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”.
In his address of welcome, the NiMet Director General, Prof Mansur Matazu said, the NiMet SCP is an invaluable tool that had helped lots of 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 level.
The NiMet boss maintained that, with recurring extreme events, the SCP becomes a veritable tool to notify relevant stakeholders and emergency managers of the anticipated rainfall pattern within the season for necessary mitigation plans.
“The challenges of variability in climate viz a viz global warming which has in recent times given rise to high rainfall amounts occurring within a short duration has made flash flood episodes more frequent”.
“Several roads were decimated in 2021, among which are the Maiwa bridge, along Bauchi – Kano highway, Ningi local government area of Bauchi state, the single day rainfall event of 16th July 2021 over Lagos metropolis which flooded a large portion of Lagos Island including the popular Balogun market. Increased severity of dry spells episodes in parts of Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Nasarawa states”, he added.
He noted that, the vagaries of weather and climate was not limited to agriculture, stressing that, the content of the SCP was multi-sectoral with co-produced socio-economic implications of the prediction by NiMet and relevant stakeholders.
Prof. Matazu emphasized that NiMet is 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.
“It is important to recognise the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on developing the Agricultural Sector for Sustainable Green Economy, focusing on food system development agenda that will lift hundred (100) million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade. The Government aims to prioritise healthy diets and affordable nutrition through inclusive, efficient, resilient, and sustainable agriculture which will contribute to job creations and sustainable economy growth”.
Functions of NiMet
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is the Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather and climate forecasts for the safe operation of aircrafts, ocean going vessels & oil rigs, and other socio-economic sectors, including disaster risk reduction. We observe, collate, collect, process, and disseminate all meteorological data and information within and outside. Our services cut across Aviation, Telecommunications, Power & Energy, Agriculture, Building and Construction, Oil & Gas, Disaster Risk Reduction & Management, Education, Defence, Marine & Maritime, Health, Finance & Insurance, among others, in support of sustainable socio-economic activities in Nigeria.
