The Director General/CEO of NiMet Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, Chairperson of the Governing Board of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) attended the 3rd ACMAD ClimSA Continental Steering Committee Meeting. The Meeting was held in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire between the 18th to 20th of April 2023. The purpose of the 3-day meeting was to strengthen partnerships along the climate service value chain, early warnings for all and application for climate resilient infrastructure design, building and operation in Africa.
The meeting was intended to share experience and information on the ClimSA Project’s achievements in strengthening the climate service value chain. It also reviewed the ACMAD/ClimSA work plan and budget for the next year. Information on the observed impact of disasters on infrastructure design, building and operation was shared. Also discussed was the need for climate services for building resilience in the infrastructure sector and raising awareness of early warnings.
Professor Matazu delivered a presentation titled ‘2022 Flood in Northern Nigeria: Available Weather and Climate Products and the Flood Impact on Infrastructure’. The presentation centred on the 2022 flood in Nigeria and its impact on states, infrastructure, people and the agriculture value chain. About 154 location with transport infrastructure worth over N80 billion was damaged, above 612 lives were lost and over 1.4 million people were displaced with loss of property worth billions.
He also presented the various channels and partnerships that NiMet adopts to aid outreach of its multi-sectoral products and services. Also attending this meeting was various institutes and meteorological services from around the world. The expected outcomes from the meeting were to raise awareness of ACMAD/ClimSA achievements and implementation of early warning for all at country levels, implementation of its work plan, budget discussion and approval. It was also expected it will lead to an improved partnership by various meteorological institutions.
