NiMet BOSS URGES NIGERIANS TO BE WEATHER WISE ……… Cautions farmers to beware of False Onset of Rains
Oru Leonard
The Director General/ CEO of The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, has advised the general public in Nigeria to be ‘Weather Wise’ .
Professor Matazu stated this in his keynote address on the occasion of the World Meterological Day (WMD), 2021 which was marked at the NiMet Headquarters on Tuesday, March 21.
He has also cautioned farmers in the North-central zone of the country and particularly Nassarawa, Niger, Benue, Abuja and neighbouring state like Kaduna against hasty planting in order to avoid losses due to the false onset of rains recorded.
“The recent rainfall activities recorded over the central states as well as Kaduna, in the North-west between the12th to 20th March, 2021 is a false onset as captured accurately in the 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction. The recorded rainfall is as a result of the forcing functions namely: Mid-latitude wave and the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) that led to the Northward pull of the inter-tropical discontinuity (ITD) and increased moisture into the country”. The DG said
Professor Matazu also added that, the above, coupled with the abundant energy in the atmosphere, resulted in the recent rainfall events in and around Kaduna, Nassarawa, Niger, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory.
He explained that the onset of the rains in the South-south of the country has been established as predicted in the 2021 SCP, that is, 1st of March to 20th March. The forecast for the South-west and South-eastern part of the country are gradually being established in line with the predicted date of 13th March to 25th April. However farmers were advised to carry out other preparatory planting activities such as clearing, purchase of inputs by farmers should commence as scheduled.
He noted that the earlier predicted onset of rains for the rest of the country remains valid, with the Central states witnessing the rains in late April to Mid-May while the Northern states would experience theirs in late May to June ending, adding that in line with its statutory mandate, NiMet will continue to issue update as the need arises.
“NiMet, in fulfilment of its mandates and in line with standards and
recommended practices of WMO, IMO, ICAO, and related organisations,
is ever committed to providing timely, accurate and quality
meteorological products and services, early warning advisories, for all
weather and climate sensitive sectors to promote sustainable
development in the country”, Matazu expressed.
The World Meteorological Day is celebrated globally by more than
190 World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Member States on the
23rd day of March annually to commemorate the coming into force of
the Convention establishing WMO on 23 March 1950 with a carefully
chosen theme to showcases the essential contribution of National
Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of
society and reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues. As
you may be aware, 2021-2030 is the United Nations Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development. To highlight the importance of the
role of WMO and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Ocean Science, 2021 World Meteorological Day is a
registered activity of the United Nations.
The theme of this year’s WMD is “the Ocean, our Climate and Weather”
Highlight of the event was a secondary school quiz of which Goverment Day Secondary School Gwagwalada led by Mrs Rosemary Bani took first position.
Mrs Bani and. her Students receiving the 1st Prize Gift for GDSS Gwagwalada.
