NiMet, Oxfam collaborate to tackle humanitarian crises in Nigeria
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and international aid organisation Oxfam are joining forces to reduce humanitarian emergencies across Nigeria.
In a statement, NiMet announced that this new partnership aims to leverage the agency’s meteorological expertise and Oxfam’s humanitarian outreach to address the impacts of climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts.
At a meeting held at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja, Professor Charles Anosike, NiMet’s Director General and CEO, expressed optimism about the collaboration. “There is no early action without early warning,” Professor Anosike emphasized. “NiMet already has products such as the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and various advisories and forecasts. Oxfam has the platform, so this is a relationship that will work.”
Professor Anosike highlighted that NiMet’s collaboration with Oxfam will complement its existing partnerships, including those with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and its efforts to disseminate climate information in local Nigerian languages. “The relationship with Oxfam is a welcome development as the work both organizations do is very critical,” he added.
William Mafwalal, Oxfam’s Programme Manager in Nigeria, detailed the anticipatory pilot projects planned under this partnership. The initiatives, which focus on flood and drought, aim to minimise the need for reactive humanitarian interventions.
“The objective of the one-year project, which is scalable, is to minimize humanitarian actions and interventions. The pilot for flood will be carried out in Adamawa state, while the pilot for drought will be carried out in Katsina,” Mafwalal explained.
He emphasized that NiMet’s data and expertise are crucial for the success of these projects. “With NiMet’s data, expertise, understanding, and technology, Oxfam and its partners can develop early action protocols,” said Mafwalal.
He expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the convenience of having all necessary data accessible through NiMet.
“This is like a one-stop shop. NiMet has all the data we require available in one location. It’s not like this in some of the other countries where we have worked,” he said.
The collaboration between NiMet and Oxfam is a strategic effort to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience in Nigeria, potentially setting a precedent for future partnerships aimed at tackling climate-induced humanitarian crises.
