Ebola: Nigeria provides weather forecasts to Sierra Leone, others

Nigeria is providing free weather forecast services to countries that are hit with the deadly Ebola virus in the West African sub-region as part of measures aimed at eradicating the disease on the continent, the Federal Government has said.

According to the government, some other countries that lack the capacity to forecast weather have indicated interest for similar support from Nigeria.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, during the commemoration of the 2015 World Meteorological Day in Abuja.

He explained that the provision of weather forecast services to the affected countries commenced during the peak of the Ebola disease, adding that the World Meteorological Organisation requested that Nigeria should support the African nations battling the scourge.

Anuforom said, “Our weather studio has been very active in producing weather services, not only for Nigeria but also for some neighbouring countries. For the past three or four months, from here, we produce the key weather forecasts for Sierra Leone and we stream it to them online.

“The genesis is that at the peak of the Ebola challenge in the sub-region, the World Meteorological Organisation approached us and said, ‘look, those that are rendering assistance need weather forecast as they carry out their duties. The doctors and other international officials who are in Sierra Leone need to know weather forecast on daily basis’.

“Sierra Leone does not have the capacity, so the WMO approached us if we could support the country from our station in Nigeria. So we started and up till today, we still package and stream weather information to them via the Internet. I must also inform you that Liberia, as well as the Gambia, have indicated interest for us to support them by producing their own daily weather forecast so as to broadcast it on television and radio.”

The DG noted that the theme for the 2015 World Meteorological Day, ‘Climate Knowledge for Climate Action,’ was chosen to draw the attention of the global community to the need for action to address climate change.