The Nigerian Metrological Agency, NiMet in conjunction with Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), on Monday held its Stakeholders African SWIFT Testbed 3 workshop on Nowcasting and Co-oproduction in Abuja
The Director Genera/Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, said the workshop is aimed at building capacity in the area of of forecasting tropical weather systems and increasing the research capabilities in west and East African Tropical weather system.
Matazu said extreme and high impact weather events are increasing in intensity and frequencies and the reality of climate is here with us.
According to him, weather events such as squally thunderstorms, drought and floods have severe impacts on African communities.
“Every year, high intensity weather events results in devastating losses of life and damages to lands and properties like theones witnessed recently caused by flood.
“Every effort at predicting and improving the accuracy of weather forecast is therefore critical and necessary for peoples safety.
“Also improvement in all weather sensitive socio-economic sectors including aviation, Agriculture, energy, water resources, maritime and emergency response,” he said.
The Director General said the Aeromet operations accross the country are currently receiving attention with the ongoing full audit process, adding that the agency was at advanced stage to improve service delivery.
He said the workshop provides an excellent opportunity for both forecast users from numerous economic sectors across Nigeria, and SWIFT operational forecasters and researchers to meet and discuss weather information services and to strengthen partnerships.
“Since my assumption in office, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has continued to invest in improving delivery of services and generation of relevant products.
“The NWP has also received a boost in infrastructures that will enhance their ability to make adequate and timely umerical weather predictions to serve not only Nigerians but other countries.
“The Agency constantly engage in collaborative partnership that will improve our service delivery and wider research to the last mile,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop featured interactive session among stakeholders on weather and climate information for the development of the economy. (NAN)
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