The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has stressed the critical need for investments in disaster preparedness to mitigate the devastating effects of climate-related emergencies. He made this appeal during the one-day “Roundtable Meeting on Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria,” held on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The high-level event, organized by the Office of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), brought together key agencies like the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to establish a unified strategy for anticipatory action.
In his opening remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, underscored the meeting’s importance. He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had mandated a more systematic and collaborative approach to coordinating humanitarian efforts nationwide. This directive reflects the growing urgency to address Nigeria’s complex humanitarian challenges through unified and strategic actions.
Trond Jensen, Head of UNOCHA Nigeria, lauded the event’s significance and diversity of participation. He remarked, “We are committed to fostering stronger collaboration with Nigerian government partners, civil society, and international allies. Our shared efforts aim to enhance the lives of Nigerians requiring humanitarian assistance.” Jensen reiterated that effective solutions require collaboration at federal, state, and local levels, highlighting the indispensable role of partnerships in tackling humanitarian crises.
Prof. Anosike, in his address, detailed NiMet’s crucial role in disaster preparedness through the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and NIHSA’s flood outlook. “These two national documents form the foundation of disaster response in Nigeria,” he stated. “The flood outlook derives from the SCP, and both are pivotal in preparing communities to respond effectively to climate disasters.” He emphasized the need to downscale these documents to grassroots levels, ensuring timely dissemination of life-saving information.
To facilitate this outreach, NiMet is collaborating with state governments through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Prof. Anosike explained, “We can’t achieve anything without the states. The Governors will help ensure that information reaches the communities early and that they are adequately prepared.” He further highlighted NiMet’s commitment to producing crop calendars and extending tailored climate services to farmers across the nation.
The meeting concluded with participants agreeing on the importance of innovation, collaboration, and robust frameworks for enhancing Nigeria’s disaster preparedness. NiMet announced plans to host an expanded roundtable in two weeks to further advance the outcomes of the discussion.
