NIMET Forecasts Favourable Weather For Aviation In 2013Harmattan
By Ayoola Ponmile
Map of Nigeria
WorldStage
Newsonline-- The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has forecasted
that the air transport sector may not experience significant negative
impact during the harmattan season of 2013, but added however that they
will be minor delays in flights due to reduced horizontal visibility in
dust haze in some airports in the country.
The
director general NIMET Dr Anthony Anuforom, who presented the 2013
Seasonal Rainfall Prediction to the media in Abuja, advised airline
operators to regularly obtain meteorological reports in compliance with
International Aviation Organisation Standard and Recommended Practices.
Anuforom,
warned pilots to exercise great caution and heed the weather advisories
provided by NIMET during the onset and cessation periods of the rainy
season when thunderstorms will be prevalent and severe with associated
turbulence.
The
NIMET boss explained that there would be above normal rainfall in four
states of the federation in comparison with that of 2012.
He
explained that Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and its environs would
likely have above normal rainfall and advised relevant authorities to
always use NIMET’s updates to control possible adverse impact.
He
explained that normal rainfall over large areas of the country with
enough water in lakes, dams and rivers for both hydroelectric power
generations as well as for irrigation.
According
to the NIMET boss, the expected changes in the predicted annual
rainfall were below normal in Abeokuta and above normal in Ibadan and
Yelwa, adding that generally, a near normal rainfall amount will be
witnessed this year.
He
declared that the prediction of normal rainfall for the country did not
rule out chances of abnormal conditions in some states as experienced
in the previous year, adding that catchment areas of River Niger and
parts of the Niger Delta in particular had higher chances of having more
rains in 2013 than the previous year.
He
advised people around the areas to ensure early planning with respect
to sensitization, preparedness, mitigation and funding in order to
reduce the risk of likely weather hazards anticipated over such areas.
On
agriculture, Anuforum said the season will be good for farmers in crop
production across the country and advised them to commence field
establishment of their crops within the period when the rains have fully
set in except for tuber root crops.
He
noted that dry spells were likely to occur in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara,
Yobe and Borno states particularly in the month of June 2013 and
advised farmers in these states to apply caution when planting and to
seek guidance from appropriate authorities to prevent economic loss.
In
his remarks, the chairman Senate committee on Aviation Senator Hope
Uzodinma commended NIMET for being up and doing without failing the
country.
Senator
Uzodinma recalled that Nimet issued several warnings on the
possibilities of flooding last year in different parts of the country
which claimed so many lives across the country.
He
declared that the predictions of NIMET were accurate and to the point,
hence the agency was able to identify areas prone to flooding before the
incident.
Senator
Uzodinma called on Nigerians to take NIMET’s predictions very seriously
adding that if they were taken very seriously, the wanton loss of lives
in years flooding would have been mitigated.
He
explained that NIMET due to its critical and crucial role in the
country should be properly funded and advised the management of the
agency to take all necessary steps to ensure that it acquire all
requisite technology need in the weather condition observations.
Senator
Uzodinma assured of the committee’s assistance to facilitate the
upliftment of the agency, adding that section 7 sub section 1c of the
NIMET Establishment Act 2003, empowered it to issue weather forecast for
safe operations of aircraft.
He
announced that the Act of NIMET will be amended to make it mandatory as
law for departments of government to obtain NIMET predictions when
released as it will help to strengthen various institutions.
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