Charles Anosike, the director general and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has charged Nigerians to heed early climate warnings to mitigate risks in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Initiatives.
He stated this at the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit themed ‘Tree-mendous Strategy for a Sustainable Future’, held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State Wednesday.
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“For the effective impact of the seasonal climate prediction (SCP) and other early warning products from NiMet, these early warnings must be matched with early actions by all to mitigate the associated risks and build a more resilient society,” Anosike said.
He added that over the years, NiMet has developed mutually beneficial partnerships with research Institutions and academia across the country for the overall good of the nation. He said these partnerships have played significant roles in improving climate knowledge, climate risk management, disaster risk preparedness, climate appreciation and awareness among others.
He added that recent decades have seen increasing frequency and intensity of flooding across the country.
“Heat waves and heat stress are gradually becoming a regular occurrence yearly, dry spell frequency and intensity are also on the increase with potential danger for the occurrence of meteorological drought.
“Weather storms (thunderstorms, line-squalls, rainstorms etc.) are becoming more violent. Mudslides, erosions, and coastal inundation are not left out. All these are consequences of the changing climate with attendant human and socio-economic losses to affected communities and the nation,” Anosike said.
The DG who was represented by Glory Onyegbule, Director of the Directorate of Applied Meteorological Services (DAMS), added that human actions through deforestation, urbanization, transportation, industrialization, indiscriminate waste disposal, land use, etc. have contributed immensely to the rapidly changing climate.
He therefore stated that combating the cause and effect of Climate Change requires the collective action of all citizenry at national, state and local government levels including communities.
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Anosike also commended Kate Omenugha, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, and the university community’s action through the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit, saying that it should be applauded and emulated by other institutions.
He advised the University will continue to utilize NiMet forecast in nurturing the trees planted and assured that NiMet will continue to collaborate with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and other stakeholders in ensuring the timely release of accurate weather and climate information that is impact-based and actionable.
