By Etuka Sunday
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said that every sector of the economy must put in place measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people and improve the economy.
The Minister said this in a keynote address on Tuesday in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction and the 2021 State of the Climate in Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet).
The theme of this year’s Seasonal Climate Prediction is ‘Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery’.
The Minister who said that the theme was apt and should be fully supported, said NiMet continued to bring Nigeria weather and climatological forecasts touching on different areas of her socio-economic lives in accordance with its mandate.
He said: “We must all rise to take up their forecast and respond with appropriate actions for resilience, adaptation, and mitigation.”
“We are living in times when most economies worldwide have become fragile due to multiple complexities ranging from insecurity to the global pandemic and its attendant impact on many socio-economic activities.
“This is attributed in part, to the COVID-19 crisis, low oil prices, and shrinking foreign remittances, among others.”
The Minister said that amidst these challenges, climate change and climate variability continued to be a reality we cannot shy away from.
He said: “Many disastrous weather and climate events continue to increase in intensity and frequency bringing untold hardship to the people and straining further the already fragile economy.”
He said in recent weeks, Nigeria’s aviation industry had witnessed many flights cancellation and delays to bad weather causing economic losses and social discomfort.
These forecasts, according to him, were perishable and ranged from nowcasting, short, medium, and long-term category which is its Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP).
In his welcome address, NiMet’s Director General, Prof. Bako Matazu said the Agency issued weather and climate forecasts for the safe operation of aircrafts, ocean going vessels & oil rigs, and other socio-economic sectors, including disaster risk reduction.
He said: “We observe, collate, collect, process, and disseminate all meteorological data and information within and outside.”
He said that NiMet services cut across Aviation, Telecommunications, Power & Energy, Agriculture, Building and Construction, Oil & Gas, Disaster Risk Reduction & Management, Education, Defence, Marine & Maritime, Health, Finance & Insurance, among others, in support of sustainable socio-economic activities in Nigeria.
He said: “The Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped lots of farmers improve their yields.”
Prof. Matazu said that in Nigeria, one of the pathways for economic recovery was agriculture however, many of the agricultural practices were climate dependent and largely rainfed.
“It is important to recognise the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on developing the Agricultural Sector for Sustainable Green Economy, focusing on food system development agenda that will lift hundred (100) million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.
