By Egbodo Queen
Charles Anosike, the Director-General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has highlighted the pivotal role the agency plays in the nation’s mining sector, emphasizing the significance of authentic weather forecasts for solid minerals development.
This declaration was made during a one-day ‘Solid Minerals Conference’ organized by Business Day newspaper in Abuja on Tuesday, as revealed in a statement released by the agency.
Anosike, presenting a paper titled ‘Intersection between Climate Change Concerns and the Mining Industry – The Functions of NiMet,’ underscored that the mining industry is among the most weather-endangered sectors globally, with mines often situated in geographically and climatically challenging locations.
Weather conditions significantly influence mining operations, posing risks to worker safety and causing delays and disruptions in productivity.
The Director-General emphasized the critical role of real-time weather forecasts, warnings, and climatic information in ensuring the safety of mining operations, particularly in areas where weather conditions can have a substantial impact on safety.
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“Authentic meteorological data helps in evaluating and alleviating dangers connected with extreme weather events such as floods, storms, etc. This is crucial in minimizing potential damages to infrastructure and ensuring the safety of personnel,” read the statement.
Anosike reiterated the government’s commitment to diversifying the country’s revenue sources by focusing on the minerals sector, echoing the sentiments of the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dele Alake.
He also highlighted NiMet’s new Establishment Act 2022, aiming to commercialize meteorological data through partnerships with the private sector.
The investment will enable NiMet to provide specialized weather and climate data to institutions, facilitating efficient planning and operational optimization.
Furthermore, Anosike shared information about the upcoming public presentation of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites on February 20, 2024, in Abuja.
The SCP serves as an early warning tool, providing information to various sectors of the Nigerian economy to respond to climate emergencies in the coming period.
