As the rainy season begins in parts of the country, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has warned pilots and the general public to be wary of thunderstorms and other hazardous weather events.
In a release issued Monday by its General Manager, Public Relations Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, the Agency stated that the update is in line with the public presentation of the Seasonal Climate Prediction made by the Agency in January this year.
The statement further stated that “NiMet predicted rainfall onset to be earlier than the long-term average in most parts of the country during the 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP). The onset is expected to start from the coastal states of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom in early March, progressively followed by the inland states and the Central states.” the statement reads.
The statement noted that the recent thunderstorms recorded over parts of the coastal and inland states showed that the Agency’s prediction is on-point, reliable and accurate.
NiMet further cautioned that for areas where thunderstorms are expected, this weather hazard can cause significant disruptions, stressing that thunderstorms can lead to turbulence, lightning strikes, strong winds, heavy rainfall, downdraught, microburst, and hailstones.
“All of these pose significant threats to the safety of lives and property. The effects of thunderstorms are more hazardous to the aviation industry, particularly the aircraft operations and passengers. Thunderstorms can also cause delays, diversion and cancellations of flights, as aircraft are often grounded in the face of severe weather”.
The Agency assures pilots, the aviation industry and airport users that it has installed weather monitoring systems, thunder detectors, satellite receiving ground-stations and Automatic Weather System (AWS) across the airports (and other stations) nationwide as a measure to mitigate the effects of thunderstorms to the aviation industry.
The Agency has also developed a variety of products and services to help track the thunderstorms and its attendant hazards. It added that the Pilot Briefing Rooms are always available for Services.
NiMet therefore advises all Pilots and Airline Operators to exercise caution during flight operations (during this adverse weather) as the rainy season begins.
“The rains which are currently prevalent in the Southern parts of Nigeria and occasionally around the Central States, are usually accompanied by severe thunderstorms which are bound to affect air navigation,” the Agency reiterated.
NiMet therefore enjoins Pilots/Flight Crew members to obtain adequate departure, enroute and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet offices prior to flight operations for effective planning in their air navigation.
In a related development, NiMet boss Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu has also been selected into the Scientific and Academic Advisory Board of the AGRHYMET Regional Center, Regional Climate Center for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS), AGRHYMET, a specialized institution of the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
The selection, which is based on Prof. Matazu’s scientific and professional background, is contained in a letter dated February 9th, 2023 and signed by the Director General of the Center, Dr. Mahalmoudou Hamadoun.
“Given your scientific and professional background, I would like to invite you to accept to be a member of our Scientific and Academic Advisory Board as an expert at Climate and Hydroclimatic risks in the Sub-committees 2 (CLIMAT)”.
The Scientific and Academic Advisory Board was established in 2001 and meets regularly to evaluate and provide advice on the training and operational research activities carried out by its staff.
The Board which is composed of renowned scientists from West Africa, Europe, and North America who have worked in disciplines of interest to the Center, have members sit on the board for four years/sessions after which they are replaced
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
