By Adelola Amihere
Citing changes in the climatic weather patterns across the world, the Director General Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET), Prof Sani Mashi has attributed it as the reason for the extreme weather conditions currently witnessed across the country.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja to herald the 2020 seasonal rainfall prediction, the Director General NIMET pointed out that Nigerian weather is simply responding to the the changes of weather pattern of the world.
“This year we have witnessed a lot of weather changes that had never been witnessed before as a result of changes in weather patterns over the source region and this account for situation whereby temperature had low has 6°celcius was recorded in some part of the country,” he stated
He explained that Nigeria weather is controlled by 3 different air masses including the north easterly wind that comes from the Sahara, the South westerly wind that with source from the Atlantic ocean. He said the two wind moving at opposite direction is largely responsible for the pockets of rain being witnessed recently in the country.
Mashi further said “The other one is responsible for bringing the dryness, dusty and windy nature weather adding that depending on the time of the year and the location, the air masses tend to be very active.”
“Over the last two years there has been increase intensity of north easterly wind, the implication of this is that we should expect increase intensity of particularly the condition the wind is creating in Nigeria.”
“But however because the source region is Sahara and it is coming from the north eastern direction then it means the intensity of the wind will be greater and one move from the South to the Northern part of the country. This explains the reason the hamattan, including the dust haze seem to be greater towards the north”
He added that if there are increase in the intensity of the rain as a result of changes in the pattern of the climate, the intensity would be higher towards the southern part and lower towards the north.
The DG further announced that the agency now has improved condition of service for its staffs which is an uplift of the obsolete condition of service the agency has been operating under
He examined that the management is further working to ensure implementation of the payment of National minimum wage and the payment of all areas with National Salaries and wages commisionand the office of the accountant General of the federation.
