NewsNiMet Issues Operating Guidelines For Stakeholders In Aviation, Others

NiMet Issues Operating Guidelines For Stakeholders In Aviation, Others

February 28, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a vital document that will guide stakeholders in the aviation, agriculture, maritime, telecommunication, oil and gas, insurance, building and construction, power and others, to enable them achieve high productivity in their different areas of endeavours.
The agency issued the key document while presenting the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Centre in Abuja, recently.
Speaking during his keynote address, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika pointed out that, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged the global economy in the past few years, climate change and climate variability continue to be a reality which Nigerians cannot shy away from.
Senator Sirika who unveiled the 2022 SCP, noted that many disastrous weather and climate events have continued to increase in intensity and frequency, bringing untold hardship to the people and straining further already fragile economy.
He reminded the audience that in recent weeks, Nigeria’s aviation industry has witnessed many flights cancellation and delays to bad weather causing economic losses and social discomfort.
The minister therefore, commended the theme of this year’s Seasonal Climate Prediction: “Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery, advising that, every sector of the economy must therefore, put in place measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people and improve the economy.
He equally applauded NiMet for the diligence put in place continously to bring to Nigerians weather and climatological forecasts touching on different areas of their socio-economic lives in accordance with its mandate.
In his presentation, director-general/CEO of NiMet, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu said that, the Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped lots of farmers improve their yields.
According to him, SCP has also helped 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 therefore, noted that the content of the document is multi-sectoral, which will co-produce socio-economic implications of the predictions and relevant stakeholders.
Explaining further, the importance of SCP to nation building, Matazu who is a permanent representative of Nigeria with World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) emphasised that “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”.
According to him, 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.
Matazu however, informed that in compliance with government’s progressive agenda, 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.
According to the DG, 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, he said 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 spell episodes in parts of Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Nasarawa states.
He warned that, with such 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.
Former DG of NiMet, Dr Anthony Anuforom also commended the agency, saying that NiMet came to limelight when the minister of information gave a directive to national radio and television stations to broadcast NiMet’s daily predictions.
Anuforom expressed joy that NiMet has maintained its vibrancy especially under the present management of Prof Matazu.

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Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.

Anthony Awunor, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.

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