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Director General/CEO, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu has bemoaned the current reality confronting the climate change question and the need for nations to grow economically.
This is just as he declared that no country in the world is insusceptible to the scourge of climate change therefore re-echoing the need for continuous cooperation among nations.
Professor Matazu made this known during his keynote address at the World Meteorological Day (WMD), 2023, with theme: The Future of Weather, Climate and Water Across Generations, stressing that the World Meteorological Organisation ( WMO) at its core with187 Member States and 6 member territories, require that all its members operate with common visions and goals.
The DG represented by Director, Research and Training NiMet, Prof. Effiom Oku, said over the years, society as well as science has evolved and so has the world climate.
He said, “The global atmosphere continues to warm while nations struggle to adjust to the reality of combating climate change amidst economic gains. The average concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to rise with devastating global consequences.
“It is very clear, however, that no country in the world is immune against the effect of the changing climate, whether as an emitter or non-emitter of these gases.
“Indeed, happenings over the years have taught us all that weather has no boundary. The world has seen ravaging storms cutting across several international borders during their life cycles. This therefore echoes the essential of cooperation at the core of existence of the WMO.
According to him, as Nigeria joins the rest of the World in celebrating the 2023 World Meteorology Day, it is key to note that the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), around the World have continued to monitor through observation (Air, Land and Water) the weather and climate, providing evidence of the changing climate and leading actions through prediction towards adaptation, mitigation and creation of resilient societies.
He however said that the warming trend and anthropogenic activities of humans towards GreenHouse Gases( GHG) concentrations have continued the upward surge stating that “… while we work tirelessly to improve on our activities, we must not forget to prepare the future generation for the task ahead.
On NiMet’s activities over the years, Matazu noted that with support from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the agency has been investing in meteorological data generation over land, water and in the atmosphere.
The data generated, he said, are so critical for past assessments and future predictions including nowcasting.
He added, “We have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with several universities in Nigeria to promote the science of meteorology within the academic institutions at tertiary level.
“To support national and regional development, NiMet continues to render services in support of aviation, agriculture, construction, tourism, defence, water resources management, telecommunications, environment, communications, etc.
