⁠⁠⁠NiMet to support World Bank/UNDP initiatives on climate and weather services in Africa

The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have invited the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to support their climate/weather services initiatives in some African countries and beyond.

The Director General NiMet, Sani Abubakar Mashi, disclosed this when a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) visited the NiMet headquarters in Abuja, recently.

Mashi while briefing the ECOWAS delegation, noted that NiMet is mandated to promote the application of meteorological information to address development, which  essentially is what the Global Framework for Application of Climate Services is all about.

“The beneficiary nations in Africa in this synergy with the world bodies are Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia, and Singapore in Asia.

“The synergy is in recognition of NiMet’s track record in providing quality meteorological services and its attainment of ISO 9001: 2015 certification of its aeronautical meteorological services.” He said

He disclosed that Nigeria has produced a National Framework for the Application of Climate Services (NFACS) that is awaiting presidential approval and explained the pivotal role NiMet played in its preparation.

He enumerated the  activities and  successes of the agency, noting NiMet’s support services to other West African countries such Liberia and Sierra Leone whose daily weather services are provided by NiMet; the provision of technical support to the ECOWAS Commission; and acceptance to train meteorologists in Benin Republic and the Gambia, amongst others.

Mashi informed the delegation that NiMet is the first, and still the only meteorological agency in Africa to receive the International Standards Organisation, ISO 9001:2015 certification for the provision of meteorological services for the aeronautical sector, and pledged NiMet’s continuous support for ECOWAS meteorological programmes.

Earlier during the visit, Johnson Boanuh, the Director of Environment of the ECOWAS Commission, who led the ECOWAS delegation said they were in NiMet to acquaint themselves and their programmes with the new management.

He paid glowing tribute to NiMet and expressed appreciation for the agency’s support of the ECOWAS commission and the Regional Office for World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Nigeria.

Boanuh informed NiMet’s DG of WMO and the Global Framework for Climate Services Secretariat in Geneva and noted that it has equally established an office in Dakar, Senegal to support and facilitate the establishment of National Framework for Application of Climate Services (NFACS) in all ECOWAS member states.

“part of the programme drawn to facilitate the establishment of the NFACS is geared towards strengthening the capacities of the various National Hydro-Meteorological Services to meet their obligations”.

He said the body has commenced the needs assessment programme for ECOWAS member states, which he revealed will be executed in phases.