By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has told Nigerians to disregard the information issued/disseminated by a body called the Nigerian Lightning Safety and Research Center (NLSRC) alerting to the possibility of lightning strikes across the nation in the month of May, 2023.
A statement signed on Sunday by NiMet’s General Manager, Public Relations, Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, said that NiMet was “the SOLE AUTHORITY to prescribe and issue the meteorological data and information required for all sectoral activities in Nigeria (Section 7(2)”.
NiMet therefore advised Nigerians to obtain all weather related information/warning from NiMet Headquarters Abuja, NiMet official website @ www.nimet.gov.ng, any duly authorised publication or any NiMet licensed/authorised body, in line with the requirements of the law, as this will help ensure the accuracy and reliability of such information.
NiMet further advised the public to promptly report any observed unauthorised dissemination of weather/meteorological information to the Agency through the office of the Director General/CEO or send an Email to info@nimet.gov.ng.
It was noted that there was 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.
On its Twitter handle, @NigeriaLSRC, the purported Nigeria Lighting Safety and
Research Centre, displaying a map of Nigeria on April 15, wrote:”Thunderstorms are expected to spread across Nigeria throughout May. The RED states are at higher risk of severe lightning strikes & flooding. Prepare for possible fatalities & fire outbreaks🔥.
Stay informed & stay safe.
#Nigeria #Nigerians #LightningSafetyNG
Another tweet by the same @NigeriaLSRC wrote:”Don’t take chances with lightning⚡!
Many Nigerians die every year while driving in rainstorms with their car windows open.
Stay safe and roll up your car windows when driving in a storm.”
#LightningSafetyNG #Nigeria.
It was yet unclear as to why @NigeriaLSRC would have published such information on the social media platform.
NiMet said that at no time did it authorise NLSRC to issue any such weather forecast to the public, as this was the statutory function of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
NiMet said that the Agency was 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.
“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/authorisation.
“NiMet is not responsible or liable in any way for any consequence(s) resulting from reliance or acting upon the said weather information issued by NLSRC or any meteorological/weather information obtained from any source outside of its approval/authorisation”, NiMet said.
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