NiMet gets World Bank thumbs up, signs MoU with water ministry
By Sade Williams/Business a.m.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s key role in climate information generation and agro-meteorological services has been recognised by the World Bank in the implementation of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project.
Kenneth Sunmonu, water resources component manager, TRIMING Project, disclosed the World Bank recognition during the signing of an MoU between NiMet and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, represented by TRIMING.
Re-afirming NiMet as a critical stakeholder in the execution of the TRIMING Project, Mansur Bako Matazu, director general and chief executive officer, NiMet, revealed that the agency has been working in synergy with the ministry since the inception of the project, which has informed the signing of the MoU.
Matazu added that the integration and adequate use of weather and climate information in the design of the project would help to mitigate siltation, water logging, and also provide hydrological ratio for irrigation requirements.
He also disclosed that NiMet will come up with detailed irrigation requirements for river basins across the country to help improve access to irrigation and drainage services, increase yields and strengthen agricultural service delivery in Nigeria.
Kenneth Sunmonu applauded NiMet’s commitment to quality climate services and access to hydro-meteorology data as it’s visible in the establishment of the world class Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) across the nation.