NiMet, Oxfam collaboration’ll minimize emergencies in Nigeria 

Omeiza Bilal

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Oxfam are set for a new partnership that would minimize humanitarian emergencies in Nigeria.  

The Director General, Professor Charles in a meeting between the officials of the organization in Abuja, Anosike lauded the idea of the partnership with Oxfam and its partners. 

He said, “There is no early action without early warning. NiMet already has products such as the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), and other advisories and forecasts we issue. 

“Oxfam has the platform so this is a relationship that will work. NiMet has other partners including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and others and publishes the SCP in local Nigerian languages. 

“The relationship with Oxfam is a welcome development as the work both organizations do are very critical”. 

Also, Programme Manager of Oxfam Nigeria, William Mafwalal said that Oxfam and its partners are rolling out two anticipatory pilot projects in Nigeria focusing on flood and drought.

He said the objective of the one-year project which is scalable, is to minimize humanitarian actions and interventions. The pilot for flood will be carried out in Adamawa state, while the pilot for drought will be carried out in Katsina.

“NiMet is already working on key areas that impacts on the projects. With NiMet’s data, expertise, understanding and technology, Oxfam and its partners can develop early action protocols”. 

“We are happy and excited partnering with NiMet. This is like a one-stop shop. NiMet has all the data we require available in one location. It’s not like this in some of the other countries where we have worked,” he added.