The Representative, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for North, Central and West Africa, Dr. Bernard Gomez has said that weather forecast will is no longer enough to mitigate impact of climate change and environmental hazards.
Gomez while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the commemoration of the 2022 World Meteorological Day stated that impact based forecast are more vital, though there is still dearth of information on early warning signals.
“Weather, Climate and weather extremes are becoming more frequent in many parts of the world as a results of climate change, subsahara Africa including Nigeria are more exposed to the hazard as a result of growth, urbanization and environmental degredation”.
“Forecast of what the weather will be are no longer enough, impact based forecast of informing the public of what the weather will be are vital to save lives and livelihoods, yet significant number of people are not adequately covered by climate related annual warning system”.
Meanwhile, the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu noted that to reduce risks associated with weather related disasters, both National Meteorological (NiMET) and Hydrological (NIHSA) services and Disaster Managers must work in synergy.
Matazu explained that 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-stakeholders early warning tool”.
Meanwhile, Matazu stated that in recognition of the importance of the seasonal climate predictions and other early warning products and services, NIMET has gone into partnerships with government MDAs such as NIMASA and FMARD including non-governmental organizations such as HEDA, APPEALS, IFAD, VCDP and LIFE-ND, State Airports such as Asaba and Anambra and a host of others.