By Fank Momoh
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) and the European Union (EU) on Thursday expressed resolve to proffer solution that would battle proof the African continent against climate change disasters.
Recall that the recent flood disaster in South Africa and other African countries have caught the continent napping in mitigative measures resulting in colossal damage to lives and property.
Speaking at the sideline of the draft programme of ACMAD 2nd ClimSA Continental Steering Committee in Abuja, Nigeria, the Director, WMO, Regional Office for Africa, in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Mr. Amos Makarau, said the critical role of ACDAMA in climate change mitigation and prevention in the continent cannot be overemphasized.
While commending the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, for his excellent leadership in driving the Centre, he acknowledged that the meeting is holding at the instance of Nigeria.
He added: “As you very well know, ACMAD is a very important organization for Africa on technical issues and capacity development for its members.
“It is in partnership and the link between African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). The aim of this meeting holding in Nigeria today is to take stock of our systems which EU has been given to Africa through ACMAND to enhance capacity development and the technical support for our countries.
“We are indeed very grateful to Nigeria for hosting us and giving us all necessary support and not only that Nigeria is a leader in meteorology but also assist many other countries in Africa.”
Makarau, however admitted that Africa still looks outside for assistance on natural disaster management, adding that Nigeria is actually making Africa proud through the WMO.
He said: “That is why we are here. We came here to commend Nigeria for this. Right now, Prof. Matazu, is the Chair of ACMAD and we will make sure that we will give him all the support to move ACMAD forward.”
On natural disasters, he said: “One of the issues which is affecting us are natural disasters. We came here as WMO to inform AU as well as the African Union Commission (AUC) that we are preparing a meeting at Maputo, Mozambique to look into natural disasters because these are issues that are really at the heart of Africa right now.
“The AUC, has said that what we need to right now is to make sure that we reduce the loss of lives particularly to the last mile of millions of Africans who reside in the rural areas on how best we can work together to mitigate the disasters and so that is the reason why we are here to take stock of what is happening especially on those technical activities and those last mile women and children who are vulnerable to natural disasters.”
The DG/CEO, of NiMet, who also doubles as the Chair of ACMAD, Prof. Matazu, acknowledged the financial framework for assisting African nations and the developing nations by the developed nations which revolves around climate change deals with social justice.
According to him, most of the impact of change of the climate is as a result of global warming which was triggered by industrialization due to high emission of greenhouse gases released into atmosphere that now altered the normal climate variation and climate data in the world.
However, it is unfortunately for Africa, because of low adaptability and low mitigation measures also, the continent got affected and became much more vulnerable to the disaster occasioned by it.
Prof. Matazu, said: “To balance the compensation that is why the advanced countries did pledge and provide some incentive for climate change adaptation. For African countries, we are working hard in order to access such funds through climate adaptation progammes and climate mitigation projects.
“We have been getting assistance from the WMO, and ACMAD which Nigeria is presently Chair of the board.
“We try as much as possible to do this and combine it with the early warning action. That is why Nigeria NiMet in particular will be getting full support from our supervising ministry, Ministry of Aviation, in providing products and services.
“As early as the beginning of the season we issue our forecast as early as February. We follow up with updates. We have various products which service as planning adaptation and mitigation.”
On accessing the over $100 billion set aside by the developed nations for climate change mitigation, he said, generally, for Africa the access to the fund is very low adding that, that is why NiMet is also assisting other African countries to raise their capacity to come up with products and projects and programmes one of which Nigeria we are hosting coupled with ClimSA which is European Union (EU) funded project.
He underscored that NiMet is hosting the ClimSA steering committee to expose African countries some of our products and programmes to climate adaption thereby raising their capacities and knowledge.
Also speaking, the Director General, ACMAD, Dr. Andre Kamga Foamouhoue, based in Niamey, Niger, admitted that there is still a challenge ahead oof African countries in operationalising the relationship between National Met Services and the disaster management Agencies.
According to him, that is the only way to move forward from the early warning signals to taking action at the government levels, where in case of drought the state of emergency has to be declared before the humanitarian organisation can come to help.
He said: “We had a good practice that occurred last year in this regard over Eastern Africa. We work together with the countries to make sure it is good practices all across Africa strengthening the connection between the Met Service providing information and the disaster management agencies actually working towards helping the countries to declare a state of emergency where it is needed. So, Nigeria is at the forefront of actually working toward reaching this goal.”
