The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has entered into a formal agreement with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at addressing climate change on a global scale.
The MoU enables NiMet to collaborate with IRC in providing advisory rainfall data, developing a rainfall intensity alert system, forecasting floods and delivering early warning messages to households and communities at risk of flooding in IRC’s areas of intervention in Nigeria.
The director-general of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu stated that the agency has developed various models to cater to the diverse needs of Nigerians, including those in the marine, agriculture, construction and aviation sectors.
“In response to IRC’s request, I am pleased to inform you that we possess early warning weather mechanisms and spatial weather forecasts that can be customised to meet your specific requirements, in line with the objectives and obligations of the MoU,” he revealed.
The synergy between NiMet and IRC is invaluable, as both organisations share a common goal of addressing the impact of climate change on vulnerable individuals and communities. While NiMet focuses on providing early warning systems within Nigeria, IRC operates globally, implementing impactful programs centred around adaptation, emergency response and resilience-building.
This agreement is part of NiMet’s broader efforts to make early warning systems accessible to all Nigerians, aligning with the United Nations’ policy directive to ensure universal access to early warnings within the next five years. NiMet continues to embark on similar interventions and collaborations to fulfill this commitment.
