By Adoyi M. Aba
Abuja
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the analysis of the 2014 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to determine its implications for disaster management.
Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who disclosed this in Abuja, according to a statement by a Press Officer in the Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, said the analysis was being done along with critical stakeholders to identify the areas in the forecasts with dire implications of certain risks for necessary actions to militate against disasters.
The statement said: “After each NIMET presentation, NEMA regularly organises meetings of experts and stakeholders in disaster management to critically analyse the Seasonal Rainfall Predictions and determine the disaster management implications of the report.”
It said Sani-Sidi, who spoke through the Director of Administration, Dr Zanna Muhammad, said the usual analysis of the annual predictions had been very useful and greatly improved on the “early warning and early action mechanism in management of disaster situations of the past years.”
“The use of weather forecast for early warning and early action is no longer an option but a compelling necessity in the face of the increasing environmental challenges from climate change and associated extreme events.
“It is the intention of NEMA that we digest, evaluate and monitor the Seasonal Rainfall Predictions together towards reducing our nation’s vulnerability, enhance our communal resilience and ensure the sustainable development of our dear country.”
The stakeholders included representatives of the Federal Ministries of Water Resources, Health and Aviation; NIMET, Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Civil Defence, United Nations’ agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the academia, amongst others.
