Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance maritime safety in the region.
The agreement, signed on December 5, 2024, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aims to promote maritime weather observation, early warnings, and capacity building, focusing on Marine Meteorology, for MOWCA member states.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in enhancing meteorological services.
He noted that NiMet will leverage MOWCA’s mandate and reach to enhance its service delivery, particularly in the maritime sector.
Anosike highlighted the shared problems of maritime safety and security, pollution of maritime waters, and the dependence of the West and Central African region on maritime transport.
He stressed the need for weather information to be broadcast to ships twice a day, as stipulated by the SOLAS convention and the World Meteorological Organization.
The Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, acknowledged NiMet’s critical role in providing weather and climate information for the maritime and other sectors.
He emphasized the importance of partnering with NiMet to enhance maritime safety and security in the region.
The partnership between NiMet and MOWCA presents opportunities for both parties to collaborate and promote compliance with the SOLAS convention.
The agreement is expected to improve maritime safety and security in the region, enhance the confidence of the international community in the Nigerian maritime sector, and promote socioeconomic development in the region.
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