Abuja – Mr Robert Masters, Director, Development and Regional Activities Department, World Metrological Organisation (WMO), said the organisation was considering Nigeria for the establishment of its Regional Office for Africa.
Masters disclosed this on Monday when he led a WMO delegation to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja.
The Director said that WMO was the specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
Masters therefore called for the support of the Federal Government to strengthen the national meteorological services to enable it provide better climate services that would enhance the adaptive capacity of the countries.
“We are seeking partnership with Nigeria so they can continue to support us like before because we cannot do this job alone without international cooperation.
“We came to evaluate the country and explore possible areas for partnership and to see if Nigeria would accept to host the Regional Office,’’ he said.
Responding, the Minister expressed his delight and thanked WMO for considering establishing its regional office in Nigeria.
Amaechi said Nigeria would support and partner with the organisation to enhance metrological activities in the African region.
“First and foremost you have to look at the capacity of a country to know if it can play host to the secretariat.
“We are currently hosting the sub region secretariat and I am sure we have not disappointed you.
“So I think what the WMO should do is to leverage on the fact that we are already hosting the sub regional office and the fact that Nigeria is one of the biggest country in size,’’ he said
Amaechi said that Nigeria would be able to carry the rest of the African countries problem on her shoulders adding: “I don’t think any African country can deny us that responsibility.’’
Also speaking, Dr Anthony Anuforom, Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), said it was an honour for Nigeria to host WMO’s Regional Office.
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Anuforom said that the country also stood a chance to benefit greatly from hosting such office both politically and economically.
He said that it would help in boosting Nigeria’s metrological activities especially through capacity training due to contact with other international staff.
“Its a thing of pride and honour to our country; let us not forget that four other countries are also competing with us to host the regional office.
“The countries are Kenya ,Tunisia ,Burundi and Ethiopia, so we are doing our best to make sure that this regional office comes to us,’’ he said. (NAN)