Vice President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday called on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on National Framework for Application of Climate Services to involve stakeholders that will assist in dissemination of information to the grassroots.
He was speaking during the presentation of the first interim report of the Committee at the State House, Abuja. Sambo told the Committee headed by the Minister of National Planning, to include traditional institutions, States and Local Governments in planning measures to stem climate scourge in the country.
He said “what are the specific responsibilities for States, local government and traditional institutions: they have a huge responsibility in this action. The responsibility of Inland Water Ways should also be involved. With this committee now there should not be information coming from different channels, all the information should be collated by NIMET and be given to the public.”
The Vice President gave the Committee till next week to prepare a final report on climate services to be presented to Mr. President and National Economic Council, adding that time is of the essence as the month of July would bring much rainfall in the country.
Presenting the report, the Director-General of NIMET, Dr. Anthony Aniforom, on behalf of the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, said modalities for actualising a quick-win programme of outreach and sensitisation of all critical end-users are being put in place.
In his report, he highlighted the methodology, sources of information and corresponding flood outlook to be disseminated as well as vulnerable areas and safety tips. He stressed the role of the media, Nollywood, Youth Corps members, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Other stakeholders include Federal Ministry of Environment, National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Federal Ministry of Works and other stakeholders.
Aniforom also urged the enforcement of Zonal Acts, Municipal Development Guidelines and Building Codes to prevent citing of buildings and other facilities on flood plains, among others.
