The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Oxfam have joined forces to decrease humanitarian emergencies in Nigeria.
During a meeting at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, officials from both organisations discussed the partnership. NiMet’s director-general, Prof. Charles Anosike expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Oxfam and its affiliates.
“Early warning is essential for early action. NiMet already provides products like the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and various advisories and forecasts. Oxfam offers a platform, making this partnership valuable. NiMet collaborates with other entities such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and publishes the SCP in local Nigerian languages. The alignment with Oxfam is a positive step as the work of both organisations is crucial.”
Oxfam’s programme manager in Nigeria, William Mafwalal stated in his address that Oxfam and its partners are launching two anticipatory pilot projects in Nigeria, focusing on flood and drought. “The goal of these year-long projects, designed for scalability, is to reduce the necessity for humanitarian actions and interventions. The flood pilot will be implemented in Adamawa state, while the drought pilot will take place in Katsina. NiMet has been actively involved in areas that impact these projects. Leveraging NiMet’s data, expertise, and technology, Oxfam and its partners can establish early action frameworks.”
Mafwalal remarked, “We are pleased and enthusiastic about collaborating with NiMet. It’s like a one-stop shop. NiMet provides all the necessary data conveniently located in one place, something we haven’t encountered in some of the other countries where we operate.”
