The Director General / Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet),Professor Mansur Bako Matazu has explained that associated with weather related disasters can be significantly reduced if relevant stakeholders like NiMet, Hydrological (NIHSA) services and Disaster Managers (NEMA, FEMA & SEMA ) work in synergy and improve collaborative efforts.
Matazu stated this in Abuja on Wednesday to mark this year’s 2022 World Meteorological Day, with the theme “Early Warning and Early Action Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction”.
According to him, this will assist in better national prevention, preparedness, and response strategies “An example of best practice is the adoption of co-production techniques in the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) of NiMet. Which has over the years served as a multi-stakeholder’s Early Warning Tool”, adding that the rule of the day emphasizes the critical role of issuing warnings/forecasts early enough for prompt and early action by various stakeholders.
In his words “An example of best practice is the adoption of co-production techniques in the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) of NiMet, which has over the years served as a multi-stakeholder’s Early Warning Tool.
“Aside the SCP, NiMet has an array of other products and services which are part of our catalogue of Early Warning Tools. However, these are perishable and must be utilised on time,” he said.
Earlier, the Director, Weather Forecasting Service , NiMet, Engr Mailadi Yusuf Abba Misua said the Meteorological Day strive to boosts awareness on the impact of meteorology activities, from data collection , collation , archiving , analyzing, production of products and advisories to support early warning for early action .
“The objective of celebrating the day is basically to spread awareness about the behaviour of the earth’s atmosphere and our role in protecting it ,” he said.
Nigeria has been a member of WMO since 30th November 1960 and has hosted the WMO Subregional office for Western Africa since 1996. The high point of the celebration was the presentation of prizes to participating schools and a car presentation to the WMO Regional Office for North, Central and West Africa.