Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has called for more funding into meteorological and hydrological services across the country.
This call was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director-General/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako at the occasion of the World Meteorological Day, WMD.
According to the DG, this has become necessary across the world, as water levels across the world ocean is rising due to climate change, which in turn comes with devastating impacts.
He urged Nigerians to heed to the rainfall prediction as given by the agency, to help “secure lives and property along the coast, and mitigate the impact of climate and weather extremes”.
On efforts of the Federal Government to mitigate the negative impacts of flooding this year, the DG noted that the predications came early enough to buy Nigerians time to prepare ahead.
While noting that Nigeria is only country in West Africa that produces its own annual rainfall predictions independently, he added that this year’s prediction released in February, is currently being translated into the three main Nigerian languages for easy comprehension.
“What Federal Government is doing is that we produce forecast and present to the public to give warning. NEMA is also helping in areas like flooding.
“NiMet as at today, has over 10 marine meteorological stations along the coastal belt of the country,” he added.
National Officer of the World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Dr. Roland Abah in his address, noted that it has become very critical to see how much impact the world makes in disrupting the climate.
He said it is now important to pay attention to the ocean, which forms “70 per cent of the earth”.
“The balance of the ocean and the atmosphere is very important. It is important to predict and know what is happening in our continent fast,” he added.
The world meteorological day is celebrated every March 23 by more than 190 member nations, to commemorate the coming into force of the Convention establishing WMO on March 23, 1950.
