By Chioma Obinagwam
The recent report of 2.9 million lightning strikes in Nigeria in the month May by the Nigeria Lightning Safety and Research Center (NLSRC) has caused stir among Nigerians.
Confiance News gathered from the official Twitter handle of NLSRC on Wednesday.
As tweeps trooped to the comment section of NLSRC to question the validity of the report among other concerns.
Confiance News recalls that on April 14, 2023, NLSRC forecasted a 2.9 million lightning strikes that would occur in the World’s most populous black country— Nigeria, in the month May, 2023.
Miriam Humbe, a tweep, said:”Are you not usurping the job of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)? That’s the only Agency of government authorised to issue weather advisories. Check check… .”
Reacting to Humbe’s comment, NLSRC said: “Corroborating Humbe’s concern, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which is the official source of all weather and climate news and events in Nigeria came out to issue a disclaimer.
It said: “NiMet wishes to inform the public that at no time did it authorize NLSRC to issue any such weather forecast to the public, as this is the statutory function of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
“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. 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)).”
Reacting to NiMet, Chris Vagasky, an American meteorologist, tweeted, “Disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, to see @nimetnigeria recommending Nigerians ignore an individual’s (@NigeriaLSRC) attempts at improving #LightningSafety across their country. Safety and awareness of #lightning needs more than just one organization to lead the effort.”
