Abuja — The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, yesterday made a public presentation of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) 2009 Weather Prediction for Nigeria with a warning that the country should prepare for severe weather conditions this year.

Before the presentation, the Minister had observed that "drought and desertification, floods, deaths arising from heat waves and the submerging of low-lying areas are some of the known consequences of our bad environmental habits."

The Minister added that severe weather conditions have become so bad all over the world that mankind faces huge socio-economic losses as a result of weather-induced disasters.

The Director General of NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforum, at the occasion declared that there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the temperature of the earth will continue to increase due to increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

"This would in turn result in increased frequency and intensity of weather-related natural disasters such as floods, storms, tornadoes, heat waves, drought and desertification", he said.

According to him, the situation constitutes a threat to socio-economic development programmes especially in Agriculture/food security, infrastructure and health.

According to the 2009 Weather Prediction for Nigeria, "because of Rising Sea-Level (RSL) and Higher Sea Surface Temperature (SST), the Coastal belts will be dominated by varying degrees of severe rainstorms at the onset and end of the Rains. On the other hand, the Northern part will experience some freak storms that could be severe in different areas where moisture surplus (floods) in rivers catchments basins and dams is prevalent throughout the season."

Warning further, MIMET predicts that, "flooding in the coastal zone and river catchments basins in the hinterlands are inevitable".

The agency then called for "maximum" publicity to warn Nigerians on these looming dangers.

But the predictions were not all gloomy, as the MINET also forecasts a bumper harvest year, with high meat, and fish yields as a result of sustained rain over the entire country between March and October.

According to the forecast, "This year's weather prediction shows potential high yield crops particularly grains and adequate fodder as the length of the rainy season and rainfall amount are adequate and sufficient to support high quantity and quality of meat and milk production."

Coastal and maritime areas have high prospect for high fish production in 2009, even when there may be some severe rainstorms and gustiness."

The Agency then recommended the provision of adequate market to avoid waste.