The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has urged governments, emergency managers, and relevant bodies to incorporate weather forecasts into their planning strategies. Mrs. Glory Onyegbule, Director of Applied Meteorological Services at NiMet, emphasized this point during a National Emergency Coordination Forum organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja on Thursday.
Onyegbule highlighted that NiMet, in fulfilling its mandate, has provided seasonal climate predictions for the entire country. She noted that these predictions were shared with stakeholders, particularly emergency managers, to help them understand Nigeria’s 2024 climate outlook, including rainfall patterns and other climatic factors.
“In our seasonal climate prediction, we detailed the onset and cessation dates of the rainy season, expected annual rainfall amounts, and the duration of the rainy season,” Onyegbule explained. She added that the agency also compared these predictions to long-term averages, identifying deviations, particularly in the Northeast, in areas such as Maiduguri and Bauchi, and shared this information promptly with the public.
Onyegbule pointed to the current severe flooding in Borno as evidence of climate change and stressed the importance of emergency managers acting quickly. She also advised those responsible for dam management to maintain the integrity of these facilities, warning that flooding could continue to recur unless proactive measures are taken, particularly in flood-prone areas.
Mr. Trond Jensen, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, echoed this sentiment. Speaking virtually from Borno, he mentioned that his office is collaborating with NEMA, state emergency agencies, the military, and other stakeholders to support those affected by flooding. Jensen noted that the UN team is already on the ground in Maiduguri, providing food, clean water, and other necessities to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Jensen also indicated that the UN is monitoring potential flooding in Adamawa and is coordinating with local authorities to relocate vulnerable populations. The organization is using an online tracking system to monitor response efforts and manage emergency stocks, including food, non-food items, and shelter materials.
As flooding remains a threat in various parts of the country, both NiMet and the UN are working closely with NEMA to ensure that emergency planning is informed by accurate and timely weather data.