The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has appealed for greater investment and robust public-private partnerships to bolster Nigeria’s weather and climate observation infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2026 World Meteorological Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday, Anosike stressed that precise, timely weather data is vital for protecting lives, bolstering economic sectors, and informing critical decisions amid escalating climate threats.
The global event, observed annually on March 23 under the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), carried the theme “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow”, highlighting data’s role in enhancing forecasts and climate resilience.
Anosike outlined NiMet’s progress in modernising surface and upper-air networks, satellite systems, and automatic weather stations, which now underpin aviation safety, agricultural planning, disaster readiness, and maritime operations.
According to Anosike, Nigeria also extends technical support to Liberia, Niger, Somalia, and Burkina Faso. Yet, he warned, climate change is amplifying extreme events.
NiMet’s State of the Climate in Nigeria 2025 report revealed 23 cities hitting 40°C or higher, with Nguru in Yobe State enduring 100 such days, alongside surging floods.
“Private sector involvement in weather stations, data analytics, and AI technologies is essential to augment national efforts,” Anosike declared.
Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), echoed the call, emphasising meteorological data’s primacy in aviation safety and the need for tech-integrated, resilient infrastructure.
Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) DG Umar Mohammed praised NiMet’s disaster risk reduction role and urged wider adoption of forecasts.
Dr. Roland Abah, WMO representative for North Central and West Africa, flagged extreme weather as Africa’s top long-term risk, from heatwaves to sandstorms, and pressed for sustained funding.
Stakeholders from aviation, hydrology, academia, and industry converged to affirm collaborative upgrades to weather systems as key to national resilience.
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