CLIMATE RISK: Early Warnings Must Be Matched With Early Action- NiMet Boss 

Oru Leonard 

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has charged Nigerians to heed climate
warnings in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Initiatives.

Prof. Anosike who was represented by Mrs Glory Onyegbule, Director of the Directorate of Applied Meteorological Services(DAMS), was speaking on Wednesday, 17th July, 2024, at the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit themed ‘Tree-mendous Strategy for a Sustainable Future’, held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra state.

Prof. Anosike said that over the years, NiMet has developed mutually beneficial partnerships with
research Institutions and the academia across the country for the overall good of the nation. “These partnerships have played significant roles in improving climate knowledge, climate risk management, disaster risk preparedness, climate appreciation and awareness among others”, he said.

He informed the audience that recent decades have seen increasing frequency and intensity of
flooding across the country. “Heat wave and heat stress are gradually becoming a regular occurrence yearly, dry spell frequency and intensity are also on the increase with potential danger for the occurrence of meteorological drought.
Weather storms (thunderstorms, line-squalls, rainstorms etc.) are now becoming more violent. Mudslides, erosions, including coastal inundation are not left out. All these are consequences of the changing climate with attendant human and
socioeconomic losses to affected communities and the nation at large”, Prof. Anosike said.

He said that human actions through deforestation, urbanisation, transportations, industrialization, indiscriminate waste disposal, land use, etc. have contributed immensely to the rapidly changing climate. “Combating the cause and effect of
Climate Change requires the collective action of all citizenries at national, state and local government levels including communities”, he charged.

Professor Anosike commended the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, and the university community’s action through the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit, saying that it should be applauded and emulated by other institutions.

Prof. Anosike said that NiMet carries out early warnings through the annual seasonal climate prediction (SCP). “For effective impact of the SCP and other early warning products from NiMet, these early warnings must be matched with early actions by all in order to mitigate the associated risks and build a more resilient society”.

He hoped that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University will continue to utilise NiMet
forecast in nurturing the trees planted and assured that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) will continue to collaborate with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
University and other stakeholders in ensuring timely release of accurate weather and climate information that is impact-based and actionable.