NiMet DG advocates Public Private Partnerships for effective meteorological services.

NiMet DG advocates Public Private Partnerships for effective meteorological services.

Joel Oladele, Abuja

Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NiMet), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu has called on stakeholders to embrace Public Private Partnership towards effective meteorological service delivery.

Professor Matazu made this appeal on Monday in his address at the first French-Nigeria Meteorological Seminar and Business Meeting, held in Abuja.

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.

Matazu, who is also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that in the face of the current global economic challenges, Government funding of meteorological activities is not enough, thus the need for alternative funding.

“As we all know, 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 stabilize due to the devastating covid experience.

“Similarly, the cost of conducting meteorological business is also increasing amidst staff attritions due to inadequate remuneration and many others. 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 noted.

Speaking further, the DG stated that NiMet has been doing its best to deliver on its mandate of supporting  socio-economic development across all sectors of the Nigerian economy through its various programs.

“As a Service Provider, my Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (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. 

“NiMet provides round-the-clock weather information that is 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.

“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 foregoing therefore gives credence to the aptness of this workshop, and I assure you of Nigeria’s friendly business environment with adequate legal frameworks.” he said.