This year’s rainy season and other weather conditions are likely to cause major disruptions in the country which will affect citizens’ health and infrastructure in key sectors.

According to a technical committee of experts set up by the Federal Government, this is due to the severity of the weather and lack of preparedness by relevant agencies.

Roads, bridges and other key infrastructure as well as communities may be washed away, while disease epidemics may break out in many communities.

The aviation sector is not left out as airplanes may skid off runways and cause major catastrophes.

The warning is contained in a document prepared and made available to Saturday PUNCH by the panel, which is chaired by the National Emergency Management Agency.

It also warned that severe flooding would likely wash away farms and lead to the destruction of livestock, thus causing severe hunger in the land. In addition, it predicted that severe weather might worsen malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases, and escalate depression among Nigerians.

The warning was given in the 2023 climate-related disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies. The document indicated that the agency developed the early warning messages in collaboration with several stakeholders, including representatives of about 22 ministries, departments and agencies.

The document showed that the 22-member technical committee signed the ‘Analysis of 2023 seasonal climate prediction’.

The agencies include NEMA, the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, National Space Research and Development Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority, Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and the National Orientation Agency.

The list also includes the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Transportation and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.

Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management, River Basin Development Authority, Jiga Dam, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Federal Fire Service, Centre for Disaster Risk Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency; Erin Dam, Osun State, and the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, Minna, Niger State.

According to the document, following the public presentation of the 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction by NiMet on January 24 and the Annual Flood Outlook by NIHSA on February 17, 2023, NEMA convened a technical meeting of experts from relevant stakeholder-organisations who deliberated for two days and came up with the strategy as an early warning document based on thematic sectors.

“The strategy is to aid responsible organisations carry out preparedness and mitigation actions to safeguard lives, livelihoods, properties and the environment against hazards related to climate variability within Nigeria in 2023,” it stated.

In the agricultural sector, the panel said the onset of the planting season was likely to range from early to normal in most parts of the country, while later than normal onset dates were expected over parts of the northern states. Read more

Punch