By Yemi Olakitan
To support its efforts to implement the terms of the Nigerian Local Content Development and Enforcement Act, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has asked players in the marine, oil, and gas sectors to use the agency’s services.
According to the law, the agency is the only body authorized to prescribe and disseminate the meteorological data and information needed for all sectoral activities in Nigeria, including those in the agricultural, aviation, defense, telecommunication, marine, transport, water resources, health, and other industries.
As a result, it intends to cut back on the usage of private service providers’ meteorological services for industry participants in the marine and oil and gas sectors.
Recall that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the performance of major services was signed by NiMet and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The “NEEDS Assessment Workshop for Stakeholders in the Marine and Oil and Gas Sectors” was held over two days. Nimet’s Director-General, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, stated that the organization’s goal is to inform and educate stakeholders about its activities in order to identify their needs and meet them.
Regarding the elimination of foreign and private service providers in the marine industry, he emphasised that NiMet’s capabilities would be greatly increased if the current practise of private and foreign enterprises disseminating and charging for meteorological information were to end.
Matazu, who was represented by Engr. Mailadi Yusuf, Director, Weather Forecasting Services, stated: “Well, these services are basically meteorological marine services, and at the moment the majority of the services are provided by private providers who aren’t necessarily foreign; some of them are Nigerian, and we don’t know them, but we know that service is being provided in those sectors by someone.
“With this workshop, we’re attempting to demonstrate that we have the ability and capacity to provide the same information that our stakeholders are obtaining from other sources. Therefore, it’s likely that they are unaware that NiMet offers these services. Through this workshop, we will inform them that NiMet was established by the Nigerian government to provide those services, so they won’t need to travel to a foreign meteorological agency or contact a private individual who will charge them exorbitant fees.