The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has called for multi-sectoral, strong collaborations among line ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government, levels of government and the public in combating the negative effects of climate change.
The director-general of the agency, Prof. Mansur Matazu, made the call during the commemoration of the World Desertification and Drought Day (WDDD) 2021, with the theme ‘Restoration. Land. Recovery – we build back better with healthy land’ organized by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday in Abuja.
He said: “Rebuilding better, restoring degraded land and reversing ecological dislocations is a multi-sectoral endeavour that requires strong collaboration among line MDAs, levels of government, the private sector and the general public.”
Represented by the agency’s general manager, climate services, Idris Mohammed, Matazu said NiMet in line with its mandate had over the years provided climate services to support smart and sustainable agriculture, disaster risk management, air quality monitoring and health advisories to the Nigerian public.
He said the activities were aimed at climate proofing our national development, preserving our fragile ecosystem and supporting the implementation of international protocols including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the Sendai Framework, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in tandem with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
He also said beyond weather forecasting, NiMet was in good position to provide wind and solar installation mapping to enable the deployment or renewable energy in form of wind and solar power.
“This will no doubt reduce the destruction of trees and vegetation for firewood and other forms of raw biomass and serve as valuable driver to restoring degraded land and helping in conserving Nigeria’s diverse natural ecosystem,” he added.
He thanked the organisers of the programme, even as he assured the ministry that NiMet would consistently work with it to rebuild back better, safeguard and protect Nigeria’s fragile ecosystem and climate proof the development of the country.
