The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has called on Nigerians to heed climate warnings in line with the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Initiatives.
Its Director General, Prof. Charles Anosike, Wednesday disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Tree Planting and Climate Action Summit themed; ‘Tree-mendous Strategy for a Sustainable Future’, held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra state.
Anosike who was represented by Director of the Directorate of Applied Meteorological Services (DAMS), Mrs. Glory Onyegbule explained that weather storms (thunderstorms, line-squalls, rainstorms etc.) are now becoming more violent.
He added that recent decades have seen increasing frequency and intensity of flooding across the country, noting that heat waves and heat stress are gradually becoming a regular occurrence yearly, dry spell frequency and intensity are also on the increase with potential danger for the occurrence of meteorological drought.
The NiMet boss said that human actions through deforestation, urbanisation, transportations, industrialisation, indiscriminate waste disposal, land use, have contributed immensely to the rapidly changing climate.
Combating the cause and effect of climate change, he said, required the collective action of all citizenry at national, state and local government levels including communities.
Anosike stated: “Mudslides, erosions, including coastal inundation are not left out. All these are consequences of the changing climate with attendant human and
socioeconomic losses to affected communities and the nation at large.”
“These partnerships have played significant roles in improving climate knowledge, climate risk management, disaster risk preparedness, climate appreciation and awareness among others.”
