By Awaal Gata
Abuja
The federal government has charged member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt a meteorological programme to tackle the effects of the climate change on the region.
Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, gave this charge at the weekend in his remarks at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Charge of the National Meteorological Services of ECOWAS member countries, in Abuja
According to him, the move would be a significant milestone in the history of meteorological services in the sub-region if the programmme is adopted for implementation.
The objective of the programme is to improve the quality of meteorological services in member countries so as to reduce disaster risks associated with extreme weather events and achieve sustainable development of the sub-region.
The minister noted that the extreme weather events had retarded the pace of development and could obliterate developmental achievements already recorded.
“It is, therefore, expedient that our national development should be climate-resilient. This underscores the need to factor in meteorological information into the national economic development agenda of our respective countries.
“It is also important for each ECOWAS member country to take necessary steps to downscale the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and establish the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) as recommended by the WMO,” he said.
The Secretary-General of WMO, Prof Petteri Taalas, said though ECOWAS region was one of the first regions to draw the attention of the world to the climate challenge that subsequently led to the establishment of the Permanent Interstate Committee to combat drought in Sahel, still home to some of the most hostile climate conditions in the world.
Speaking on his behalf, the Representative of WMO for North, Central and West Africa, Mr. Bernard Gomez, noted that the ECOWAS Commission has taken the right decision to combat the climate challenge by formulating the ECOWAS Meteorological Programme.
On his part, the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tchambakou Ayassor, assured of the ECOWAS Commission’s support to member states in the policy formulation.