By Sade Williams
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said there is need to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) for adequate development of meteorological services.
Speaking at the first French-Nigeria Meteorological Seminar & Business Meetings, holding in Abuja, Director General, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, said the cost of conducting meteorological business is increasing amidst staff attritions due to inadequate remuneration and many others, especially, as the world economies are struggling due to various challenges around the globe, including natural and man-made disasters, and the fact that most countries are yet to stabilise due to the devastating covid experience.
“Hence, Government funding of meteorological activities such as instrumentation, new technologies, equipment, welfare, communication, and data exchange are grossly inadequate. It is therefore imperative that Public Private Partnership must be embraced and explored.”, he said.
He noted that as a service provider, NiMet, in line with its establishment mandate continues to promote and implement activities in support of national socio-economic development across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He added that NiMet provides round-the-clock weather information that are critical for aviation operations and development as many must have consumed our service in making it to this workshop.
The Agency also develops various products and services that are reliable, accurate, timely and actionable. Such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), an Early Warning tool, which highlights vital Weather and Climate information that may affect socio-economic activities in air, land, and water transportation, agriculture, water resources, disaster management and mitigation, health, tourism, sports, power & energy etc.
Other products include the Marine inshore and offshore forecasts, public weather forecasts, Impact-based weather forecast, Heavy rainfall forecasts and many more.
Matazu however, noted that ‘successful sustenance of these products and services amidst the economic situations and the need to adequately ensure the purpose of the United Nations Early Warning for All initiative is achieved, make it more critical for the adoption of available credible Public Private Partnerships and engagements that will provide innovative and cost-effective technological solutions that will proffer ease of doing business for maximum impacts.
“The two-day workshop is aimed at gathering the Authorities, Stakeholders and Private companies involved in the Meteorology & Hydrology sectors to discuss specific contemporary matters and issues; and for the French Companies and Institutions to introduce their products and solutions; and discuss potential areas of collaboration.
