NIGERIAN Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that the water level across the world ocean including the one along the coastal belt of Nigeria has been rising due to changing climate stating that implication is increasing danger of coastal erosion, storm surges, stronger ocean waves and swells exacerbated by global temperature increase.
This is just as the agency  is asking the meteorological community to pay more attention to the development of weather and climate services with a special focus on marine and ocean related activities amidst the increasing threat of changing climate to secure lives and property along Nigeria’s coastal belt.
Director General/CEO, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, made this known in his keynote address  on the occasion of world meteorological day (WMD), 23rd March, 2021, with the theme: The Ocean, Our Climate and Weather.
Matazu said that the science of weather and climate is never complete without adequate knowledge and reference to the ocean stating that the ocean plays a critical role in weather occurrence on different timescales including the changing climate and its variability.
Quoting the WMO Secretary General, he stated further that the ocean covers about 70% of the earth’s surface, performing a major role as a driver of world’s weather and climate, and the global economy, carrying more than 90% of world trade and sustaining the 40% of humanity that lives within 100 km of the coast.
Butressing his point, he stated, “The water level across the world ocean including the one along the coastal belt of Nigeria has been rising due to changing climate. The implication is increasing danger of coastal erosions, storm surges, stronger ocean waves and swells exacerbated by global temperature increase.
“The increasing intensity and frequency of convective storms and gusty winds are influenced by Air-Sea momentum and heat exchanges aggravated by global warming. Hence, to secure lives and property along the coast, mitigate the impact of climate and weather extremes and contribute positively to the socio-economic lives of our nation’s populace, huge investments in meteorological and hydrological services are inevitable.
He went on, “The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), over the years, with support from the Federal Government of Nigeria has been investing in meteorological data generation both along the coast and inlands. NiMet as at today, has over 10 marine meteorological stations along the coastal belt of the country. The data generated are so critical for past assessments and future predictions including nowcasting.
On services the agency renders, Professor Matazu said, “To support national and regional development, NiMet continues to render services to the marine sector including oil and gas. However, NiMet’s range of products and services cut across all weather and climate related sectors of the economy including aviation, agriculture, construction, tourism, defense, water resources management, telecommunications, environment, communications, etc.
