Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, DG CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), is system person. He is a man who believes that technology and innovation are ways to unlock the modern world challenges , resolve complexities and make solutions available to the people. To him, these complexities need policy-makers and scientists who can understand and craft well-designed policies to govern and direct the society using their knowledge. As one of these great minds, Professor Matazu is committed to innovation and making things happen. These are what he is doing at NiMet now, building heft for the agency, making it more vibrant in its tasks of getting people ready for the challenges of the immediate future, in regard to climate and weather.
In this way, NiMet is able to better deliver on its mandate of advising the Federal Government on issues relating to weather and climate. The agency is helping sea-going vessels and airlines to promote safe operations, making flying enjoyable experience. It also helps farmers with weather information. No wonder many stakeholders, farmers and businesses rely on it to better prepare for their own activities. Professor Matazu explains the mandate of the agency.
“The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is the Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology, project, prepare and interprete government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather and climate forecasts for the safe operation of aircrafts, ocean going vessels and oil rigs, and other socioeconomic sectors, including disaster risk reduction. We observe, collate, collect, process and disseminate all data and information within and outside. Our services cut across aviation, Telecommunication, power and energy, agriculture, Building and construction, Oil& Gas, Disaster Risk Reduction and management, education, defence, marine and maritime, finance and insurance, among others, in support of socio-economic activities in Nigeria.”
Recently, NiMet unfurled the 2022 edition of its yearly Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to the public in Abuja, with the theme: Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery. It was witnessed by many distinguished individuals which included ministers, CEOs of various government parastatals, and captains of industries as well as the Academia.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mansur Matazu explained that the SCP, which is “multi-sectoral with co-produced socio-economic implications of the Prediction NiMet and relevant stakeholders, describing it as a veritable tool to notify relevant stakeholders and emergency managers of the anticipated rainfall pattern within the season for necessary mitigation plans. Listen to him.
“The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) is one of NiMet’s flagship products, an invaluable tool that has helped a lot of farmers improve their yields. It has also helped increase and improve the level of preparedness by emergency management agencies, complement the flood prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and served as an advisory tool for many stakeholders at the federal, state and local government levels.”
NiMet, in its 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), predicted that there would be high meningitis occurrence in most part of the northern states of the country this year. Parts of Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states are projected to have high vigilance for meningitis in the month of February.
This is even as the agency hinted that It is worthy of note that hot, dry, and dusty weather conditions are favourable for the outbreak and spread of meningitis adding that these atmospheric conditions usually occur in the northern part of Nigeria in November to Mid-March, to this end, called for vigilance.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, was also prominent in the presentation. Sirika in his keynote address stressed that moderate vigilance for meningitis is anticipated in the central and other parts of the north, while Imo, Edo, Anambra, Ondo and Osun states are expected to be in low watch for meningitis, adding that the coastal parts of the country are likely to have no vigilance for the disease.
He gave a thumb up for Nimet: “It is amazing how assiduously NiMet continues to bring us weather and climatological forecasts touching on different areas of our socio-economic lives in accordance with its mandate. Daily, we are reminded of how interdependent and related these facets of our lives are. However, we must all rise to take up their forecast and respond with appropriate actions for resilience, adaptation and mitigation.”
The following are highlights of the 2022 SCP:
- The earliest onset of the planting season (beginning of planting activities), is expected about the 28th February 2022 in the Coastal parts of the country.
- Onset of rainfall expected to occur between April and May in the Central states within June to July in the Northern states
- Planting season is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with a few areas having it earlier while some areas having it delayed.
- Rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the county in 2022 is predicted to be near the long-term average conditions. The window between the Onset and cessation dates can be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendars.
- Growing season is predicted to last between 250-300 days in Southern parts of the country, and 100 to 200 days in the North.
- Areas around Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Benue, Bayelsa, and Rivers are likely to experience shorter than normal length of growing season.
- Prolonged length of growing season is anticipated in parts of Plateau, Kaduna, Edo, and Imo state.
Stakeholders at the event commended NiMet for the timely release of the predictions. They were of view that this would guide farmers as to suitable time of commencement of the farming season. And they praised professor Matazu for a job well done. But this is not surprising, judging by his background. And he has lived up to the expectation and the trust that President Muhammadu Buhari have in him.
Professor Matazu assumed office as the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet in March 2021. He took over from Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi following an approval by President Buhari for the re-organization of the Aviation Agencies in line with the implementation of his administration’s Aviation Development Roadmap.
Professor Matazu took over on Wednesday 17, March, 2021 at the conference room of NiMet headquarters, Abuja. That day, he acknowledged the great feat achieved by his predecessor, whom he served as Technical Assistant. He added that Professor Mashi had achieved a lot for the Agency and taken it to a great height to become the best Meteorological Agency in the whole of Africa. Professor Matazu pledged to build on this success, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and promised to run an all-inclusive administration. He noted that the former DG/CEO had always been his mentor.
Professor Matazu holds a PhD in Applied Meteorology from the Federal University of Technology Minna and a post-doctorate degree at Erasmus University, Netherlands. He lectured at Federal University of Technology Minna as well as Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina state before joining NiMet in 2016.
He has published books, Chapters and Peer review articles in both national and international Journals. He is a member of Nigerian Environmental Society, African Forestry Forum, Nigerian Meteorological Society, the Climate Change Network, Nigeria and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Nigeria (REEN).
Professor Matazu was born on 8th January, 1974 in Katsina State. He hailed from Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. This 48 years old Professor holds a PhD in Geography (Applied Meteorology), with membership of the Nigerian Environmental Society, African Forestry Forum, Nigerian Meteorological Society, the Climate Change Network, Nigeria and the renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Nigeria (REEN). He is a former lecturer at Isa Kaita College Of Education Dutsin-Ma, where he lectured in the Department of Geography. He also lectured at Ummaru Musa Yar’adua University, Federal University Dutsin-Ma and Federal University of Technology, Minna.
With Matazu at the helms, NiMet has redoubled its effort to continue to empower and equip farmers and businesses as well as other stakeholders with deep knowledge and relevant timely information about weather and climate. This offers the right tools for all to construct their own future, taking the weather and climate context into consideration.
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