The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has urged the public that at no time did it authorize Nigerian Lightning Safety and Research Center (NLSRC) to issue any such weather forecast to the public, as this is the statutory function of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
NiMet was reacting to a publication purportedly issued by the Nigerian Lightning Safety and Research Center (NLSRC) to the Nigerian public, alerting them to the possibility of lightning strikes across Nigeria in the month of May, 2023.
According to the General Manager/Public Relations, Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim in a press statement issued in Abuja explained that NiMet is statutorily mandated under Sections 7 (1) (a) and (i) of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Establishment Act, 2022 (NiMet Act), to advise the Federal Government on ALL aspects of meteorology and to collect, process and disseminate ALL meteorological data and information within and outside Nigeria.
He said NiMet is also the SOLE AUTHORITY to prescribe and issue the meteorological data and information required for all sectoral activities in Nigeria (Section 7(2)).
He said further to the above stated provisions, any person who collects, uses or disseminates weather forecast or any other meteorological information obtained from any other source outside the approval, licence or authority of the Agency for commercial or public purpose, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment or both (Section 30 (2) of the NiMet Act).
“Consequently, the public is hereby advised to totally discountenance the information issued/disseminated by the NLSRC as stated above, as well as any meteorological information issued or to be issued by this body or from any source outside of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency or the Agency’s approval/authorization.
