The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Oxfam will partner to minimize humanitarian emergencies in Nigeria. During a meeting at NiMet’s office in Abuja, the Director General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, embraced the partnership idea with Oxfam and its partners.
He envisions NiMet and Oxfam partnership to be very important.
“There is no early action without early warning,” stated Professor Anosike. NiMet already provides annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and other advisories and forecasts. “Oxfam has the platform, so this relationship will work,” he added. NiMet collaborates with other partners, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and publishes the SCP in local Nigerian languages. “The relationship with Oxfam is a welcome development as the work both organizations do is very critical,” Anosike emphasized.
Earlier, William Mafwalal, Programme Manager of Oxfam in Nigeria, highlighted Oxfam’s plan to roll out two anticipatory pilot projects focusing on flood and drought. “The objective of the one-year project, which is scalable, is to minimize humanitarian actions and interventions,” Mafwalal explained. The flood pilot will be conducted in Adamawa state, while the drought pilot will take place in Katsina. NiMet’s data, expertise, and technology are essential for these projects. “With NiMet’s data, expertise, understanding, and technology, Oxfam and its partners can develop early action protocols,” he noted.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Mafwalal expressed excitement about the partnership with NiMet. “We are happy and excited to partner with NiMet. This is like a one-stop shop. NiMet has all the data we require available in one location. It’s not like this in some of the other countries where we have worked,” Mafwalal said.
