Nigeria and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in conducting meteorological science, technical research and development.

This is contained in a statement signed by James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr Odaudu, the MoU was signed on behalf of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) by its director-general, Mansur Matazu, and Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

“Mohapatra signed on behalf of IMD, during the recent Executive Council meeting of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Geneva, Switzerland,“ he said.

Mr Odaudu quoted Mr Matazu as saying that the main objective of the proposed collaboration was to provide a bilateral relationship between NiMet and its Indian counterpart towards meteorological development in the two countries.

“According to the MoU, the parties have agreed to work together in the provision of WMO-standardised services in numerical weather prediction capability, meteorological sensor designing and satellite meteorology.

“Other proposed areas of collaboration include scientific research on meteorology and its applications in various sectors, ‘Now casting’ and Early Warning Capabilities and Capacity building activities. 

“The MoU also provides that all inventions, improvements, original works and discoveries conceived or made during collaborative projects will remain property of both parties who will jointly have the right to seek intellectual property protection, “ he said. 

He said both parties were also expected to ensure that such cooperation consisted of their respective laws, rules, regulations and other international agreements to which both were signatories.

He said the two countries resolved that a technical committee of six members (three members from each party) would be set up to implement the MoU to ensure seamless implementation.

“The position of the chairman of the committee shall alternate between the parties on an annual basis.

“The technical committee shall have the responsibility of advising on legal, training and financial procedures for the implementation of the MoU and monitoring the progress of the collaboration and preparing annual reports, “ he said.

Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, who oversaw the signing ceremony alongside the Indian High Mission to Geneva, said the MoU marked another milestone in the unprecedented growth of NiMet under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

According to Mr Sirika, the event was also a great testimonial to the global leadership of NiMet within the world meteorological community.

He said status had been attained during the current tenure of Mr Matazu as the director-general.

He expressed optimism that the NiMet Act recently signed by the president would be a tonic for further growth of the organisation both professionally and economically. 

(NAN)