FG Moves For Quality Weather Services

The Federal Government

says it is developing the operational infrastructure of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to boost quality weather and climate services.

Ms Ann Ene-Ita, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, said this on Wednesday, in Abuja, at the Regional Climate Outlook Forum for West Africa, Cameroon and Chad.

She said the provision of timely and accurate climate services was necessary to ensure safety of lives and enhance socio-economic development.

Ene-Ita said West Africa was plagued with increasing challenges and risks posed by extreme weather and climate.

“Now and again in this sub-region, we experience drought and desertification in one area and flooding and soil erosion in another”.

“These events result in distortion of the ecosystem and biodiversity, loss of lives and property, food insecurity and dislocation of population,’’ she added.

She noted that the critical agriculture sector is largely rain-fed and subject to the anomalies of seasonal rainfall.

“As part of our commitment to the development of weather and climate services, Nigeria will continue to support the programmes of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO),’’ she added.

Dr Anthony Anuforom, the Director-General of NIMET and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to WMO, said efficient climate services were needed to support sustainable development.

He expressed the hope that the lessons learnt during the forum would guide participants in developing a national framework for climate services.

The forum had as theme: “Optimisation of Seasonal Climate Forecast in Climate Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change for Sustainable Development.’’