FG to harness NiMet activities for national development — Sirika

The Federal government is to harness activities of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for national development, in all relevant sectors that rely on its services, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, said on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Speaking at the presentation of NiMet’s 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), under the theme: “Supporting the Economy cope with the Challenges of COVID-19 Global Pandemic in Nigeria, “Sirika added that taking such a measure would improve the outputs of every sector that rely on NiMet`s prediction for their functional activities.

“The Federal Government under the able leadership of Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Force, Muhammadu Buhari is very much committed to supporting the advancement of Meteorology for national development in all relevant sectors.

“I shall, in this respect, continue to support and encourage NiMet to do more in order to meet the aspirations of Mr. President.

“In the wake of increasing trends of uncertainties regarding weather in a changing climate, NiMet has continued to strive for excellence in meeting national, regional and global expectations in weather and climate service delivery,” he said.

According to him, the predictions from NiMet, on a seasonal timescale, had evolved over time with improvement in methodology, and the lead-time, including the deployment of more analytical tools and models, improved knowledge and scientific skills and broadening of stakeholders and the user community.

NiMet`s Director-General, Prof. Sani Mashi, said the agency had deepened efforts in transitioning from only rainfall as a prediction, to more climate variables, such that stakeholders that benefit from NiMet’s predictions now ranged from primarily the agricultural sector, to other relevant weather and climate-sensitive sectors of the economy.

“These evolvements have necessitated a change in the nomenclature of the document from Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) to Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to reflect aforementioned improvements there by truly reflecting the contents of the publication.

“The SCP is a national publication designed to provide climate information early, with the aim of assisting all relevant stakeholders and user communities to factor the predictions in their policies and activities for the year,” he said.

The director general said the 2021 SCP document contained valuable information for planning activities in all sectors of the economy.

He added that NiMet predictions focused on Agricultural Activities, Security, Water Resources, Health, Environment, Transportation, Power and Energy, Marine, Construction, Oil and Gas, Telecommunications, insurance and Finance, Trade and Commerce, Disaster Risk Reduction, among others.

In his speech, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, commended the minister and the director general for their laudable effort at sustaining the agency, but lamented the absence of some ministries that ought to be in attendance at the event, for the useful information that they could harvest from the SCP.

“It is a rascality in government, it will be addressed,” he added.