FG approves N1b for weather forecast The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as Kaduna, Katsina Niger, Bauchi and Kano states to expect more intense rainfall till September. NIMET, during the presentation of its yearly forecast, had alerted that the country would witness severe rainfall between […]
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned residents of the Federal Capital Territory , as well as Kaduna, Katsina Niger, Bauchi and Kano states to expect more intense rainfall till September.
However, the Director-General, Prof. Mansur Matazu, warned that due to climate change, the states might experience extreme weather conditions.Citing Katsina, where 100mm rainfall – that is one-sixth of the rainfall expected in the state for a year – was recorded in one day, Matazu said such episode never happened in the last 100 years, he said: “It shows that climate change is increasing and inducing the intensity of rate of the extreme event, which are coming more sudden and more intense.
He, however, warned southern states to be wary of flooding as a result of rivers going downstream from the north, adding that the rains were getting ready for the second peak in the south. Nigeria has lost millions of dollars due to its inability to provide forecast for the marine sector, as most of the shipping lines usually contract the service out. But the DG assured that by the end of the year, NIMET would be providing the service for the shipping lines, fishermen and the entire safety of the Nigerian coastline.