By Miriam Humbe
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other NiMet management staff held a side meeting with officials of the WMO to discuss areas of mutual interest at the ongoing COP29.
A significant focus of the side engagements was the support for Nigeria’s Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) roadmap.
This aligns with the United Nations’ initiative to ensure universal early warning systems by 2027.
The WMO’s Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) plays a vital role in this endeavor, providing long-term financing and technical assistance to close weather and climate data gaps.
Festus Keyamo, SAN, expressed appreciation for SOFF’s support and advocated for its expansion to include middle-income countries like Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive data sharing for global weather prediction accuracy.
The meeting highlighted the recent reaccreditation visit by Paul Bujeac to Nigeria’s WMO Regional Center in Oshodi-Lagos.
Recall that Bujeac commended Nigeria’s efforts in advancing meteorological services, and Nigeria anticipates a successful reaccreditation, reinforcing its commitment to international meteorological standards.
These collaborative efforts signal Nigeria’s dedication to advancing meteorological science within the aviation sector and beyond, aiming to enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience against climate change impacts.
There is great optimism about the outcome of the ongoing 2024 COP29, which is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.
Barrister Shola Gabriel, Director of Legal Services, and Mrs. Gloria Onyegbule, Director of Applied Meteorological Services at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), are also attending the COP29.
