- Aregbesola urges NiMet to revive abandoned ‘weather garden culture’ in schools
- Matazu: More flooding likely, agency tirelessly working to revive 500 abandoned weather stations
By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation on Tuesday unfolded across the country, what it termed the emerging and precise outlook of the weather and climate conditions and pattern this year (2023).
The much-expected annual event which sets trends and indices for economic planning, aviators, farmers and other stakeholders is usually encapsulated as Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP).
Standing confidently, apparently in overflowing joy in front of the capacity-filled hall with local and foreign visitors in attendance, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, was in no dull moment impressed with the excellent performance of the Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NiMet) a parastatal under his supervision…adding, NiMet, has continued to exceed expectations with prudent management of resources and performance driven action plan.
On the SRP for the year (2023), he said rainfall, will come early in March within the adjoining Coastal states and in April for the Southern states, June in states within the Central region while the rain is expected to commence in Northern States.
However, the Minister’s silence on the pattern, trend and shape of flooding to come got journalists disappointed. Few journalists who spoke on anonymity recalled that the Minister in the past years had always made few lines on flood even though it might appear sketchy on the pattern that will be ensued.
On associated outcome with rain, he said: “Talking about performance, one of the effective ways of mitigating CLIMATE-INDUCED disasters is the provision of early warning services.
“NiMet over the years has been the pacesetter in early warning services for all weather and climate sensitive activities across the country.
“However, the early warnings must be matched by early action so that it can translate to disaster reduction in Nigeria.
“This has been amplified by the recent flood of 2022 across several states as highlighted in the destruction of over 569,000 hectares of farmland, deaths of 600 people and displacement of 1.3 million persons in 34 states of the 36 states are huge losses that must be prevented from reoccurring.
While acknowledging that the two (2) committees set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on flood prevention and mitigation have hit the ground running, he said: “NiMet, once again is ready to continue in its drive for the provision of accurate, timely, reliable and actionable weather and climate prediction in Nigeria.”
On the rainfall amount, he said there may likely be an extension of rainfall in parts of Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Enugu, Anambra, Western Ogun and Lagos extended from September 26 to December 25th.
Sirika, added that the annual total rainfall amount is expected to range from 420 mm in the far Northernmost parts to 3253 mm in the coastal areas, adding that the total annual rainfall is predicted to be normal to above normal in parts, explaining further those parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna and FCT that are likely to observe below normal to near normal annual rainfall amounts.
On dry spell, the Minister, said the country should be prepared for this occurrence between June and early July as it is predicted to last for between 15 to 21 days around the Central zone of the country.
Speaking at the sideline of the event, the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, while fielding questions from reporters, warned that there are chances of more flooding across the country.
The flood, he said may be occasioned with the likely global trend of climate change activities because of the increasing temperature.
In a remark, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, commended the Minister of Aviation and the NiMet DG on their sterling leadership qualities, he however expressed concern on the state of weather equipment in schools, he expressed concerns, adding:
“When we were in primary school, every primary school and secondary school in Nigeria had weather garden equipped with rain gauge, wind vane etc etc, to conscientize the students on weather and the environment. As time progresses this equipment got destroyed and nobody cares.”
Aregbesola, urged NiMet to get the three tiers of government to revive the equipment because this will add a lot positivity to what the agency is doing as children and students will know and become more familiar with the processes and phenomenon of the ecosystem, weather and climate.
However, reacting to Aregbesola’s concern, in while giving the vote of thanks, he said, NiMet has commenced work on refurbishing and working tirelessly to revive the over 500 abandoned school weather gardens scattered across the country, adding that the agency has signed an MoU with the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) on reviving the weather stations.
He added that as at yesterday (Monday, 23) the agency has intervened in over 128 Polytechnics and universities across the country in the last three years, adding that with what NiMet has done, automatic weather stations to monitor the weather on real time and also can be used as conventional instrument for learning and retaining the data for future research activities.
