The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has stressed the significance of weather forecasting in ensuring safe and efficient ferry operations in Nigeria’s coastal and inland waterways.
Speaking at the Regional Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos, he highlighted the challenges posed by rapidly changing weather conditions to maritime transportation.
He emphasised the need for integrating weather early warning alerts into ferry operations, enabling operators to make informed decisions and minimise the impact of adverse weather events.
Anosike noted that real-time updates facilitate thorough pre-departure assessments and climate-informed decisions, enhancing search-and-rescue readiness.
He said while underscoring the importance of collaboration between providers and users in designing meteorological services, NiMet’s Memoranda of Understanding with relevant agencies, such as NIMASA, NIWA, and MOWCA, aimed at enhancing the capacity to provide relevant meteorological data and tools.
While outlining measures to overcome challenges in utilising meteorological data, Anosike emphasised that weather forecasts are fundamental to the economic prosperity of Nigeria’s coastal dwellers.
He noted that NiMet is well-positioned to provide impact-based marine forecasts and services to ensure ferry operation safety.