By Hillary Asemota
The European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have concluded arrangement to partner on disaster risk reduction.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike has commended the European Union (EU) for the move and for its various interventions in Nigeria.
Anosike was spoke when a delegation from the Directorate General-European Commission Humanitarian Office (DG-ECHO), paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Monday, 23rd May, 2024.
The DG who was excited with the Office partnering with NiMet in disaster risk reduction, said: “The proposed partnership with the Directorate General-European Commission Humanitarian Office (DG-ECHO) in disaster risk reduction is good for Nigeria, for our farmers and operators in other economic sectors.
“NiMet already disseminates weather and other climate related information on a daily basis. The weather advisories and forecasts we issue help to reduce disasters. Also, the weather data we issue to NIHSA helps them in the preparation of their annual flood outlook.”
Anosike, added that when people are aware of extreme weather events, they prepare adequately for it
On her part, a member of the delegation who spoke on behalf of the EU team, Lisa De La Rubia, said that the Directorate General-European Commission Humanitarian Office (DG-ECHO) considers NiMet a critical agency hence the desire to partner with it.
According to her, “Directorate General-European Commission Humanitarian Office (DG-ECHO) sees strong potentials for partnership with NiMet in setting up systems and strategies over the next 3 years towards disaster risk reduction in Nigeria”.
In a remark, the Director of Weather Forecasting Services (WFS) at NiMet, Prof. Vincent Weli, and other senior members of staff of the agency were present during the courtesy visit with other members of the Directorate General-European Commission Humanitarian Office (DG-ECHO) team are; Charlotte Billoir, Confort Agwu and Sandie Romero Ruiz.