The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the National Emergency Management Agency and the World Meteorological Organisation have called for stronger collaboration to close early warning gaps.

This was discussed during the World Meteorological Day commemoration on Monday in Abuja.

Representative of the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Simon Katu, acknowledged existing gaps in early warning accessibility, understanding and actionability at the community level.

“To close these gaps, we must continue working together—government agencies, meteorologists, emergency responders, development partners, and local communities—to strengthen early warning dissemination, invest in technology, and build local capacities for risk reduction,” Katu emphasised.

Katu reiterated the agency’s commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness through reliable meteorological data and early warning systems.

“This year’s theme, ‘Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,’ highlights a critical challenge in disaster risk reduction—ensuring that timely and accurate early warning systems reach all communities, especially those most vulnerable to climate-related hazards,” he said.

Katu praised NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction for shaping NEMA’s disaster preparedness strategies, enabling the agency to respond effectively to floods, droughts, and storms.

“By integrating climate forecasts into our planning, we enhance national resilience to floods, droughts, storms, and other extreme weather events,” he added.

The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Charles Anosike, noted that investing in early warning systems not only saves lives but also strengthens economies.

“Investing in early warning systems not only saves countless lives and livelihoods, it generates ten times return on investment and strengthens economies,” Anosike stated.



https://punchng.com/nimet-nema-unite-to-tackle-climate-threats/