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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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