Challenges of variability in climate viz a viz global warming has made flash flood episodes more frequent Prof Matazu
Oru Leonard
Director General of the NIgerian Meteorological Agency Professor Mandy Bako Matazu has said that The challenges of variability in climate viz a viz global warming which has in recent times given rise to high rainfall amounts occurring
within a short duration has made flash flood episodes more frequent.
The NiMet Boss stated this during the 2022 Season Climate Prediction unveiled at Abuja yesterday.
He disclosed that several roads were decimated in 2021, among which are the Maiwa bridge, along Bauchi – Kano highway, Ningi local government area of
Bauchi state, the single day rainfall event of 16th July 2021 over Lagos
metropolis which flooded a large portion of Lagos Island including the
popular Balogun market. Increased severity of dry spells episodes in
parts of Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Nasarawa states.
He further added that with such recurring extreme events, the SCP becomes a veritable tool to notify relevant stakeholders and emergency managers of the anticipated rainfall pattern within the season for necessary mitigation
plans.
According the Prof Matazu, “NiMet is excited to push this vision and help in the recovery of the economy after the trying phase where the
global pandemic affected some of the gains made previously
through Agriculture.
“However, the vagaries of weather and climate is not limited to agriculture. Other socio-economic sectors also have weather and climate as a critical component. That is why the SCP, which will be unveiled today by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, is very essential
for all. The content is multisectoral with co-produced socio-economic
implications of the prediction by NiMet and relevant stakeholders,
The Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped lots of farmers improve their yields. It has also helped increase and improve the level of
preparedness by Emergency Management Agencies, complement the
flood prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA),
and served as an advisory tool for many stakeholders at the Federal,
State and Local Government levels.
About NiMet
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), is the Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility to advise the
Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare
and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to
issue weather and climate forecasts for the safe operation of aircrafts,
ocean going vessels & oil rigs, and other socioeconomic sectors,
including disaster risk reduction. We observe, collate, collect, process,
and disseminate all meteorological data and information within and
outside. Our services cut across Aviation, Telecommunications, Power
& Energy, Agriculture, Building and Construction, Oil & Gas, Disaster
Risk Reduction & Management, Education, Defence, Marine &
Maritime, Health, Finance & Insurance, among others, in support of
sustainable socio-economic activities in Nigeria
