• Partners American firms on climate data sharing
As Nigeria contends with increasing climate-related disasters, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has stressed the need to increase investment in weather forecasts to close early warning gaps.
Speaking at a 2025 World Meteorological Day event in Abuja, Anosike underlined that weather extremes were exposing weaknesses in the country’s disaster preparedness systems.
This year’s theme, “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,” comes amid rising concerns over floods, droughts, heatwaves, and extreme storms that have devastated communities across the federation in recent years.
Anosike noted that while NiMet continues to improve forecasting and dissemination, gaps in funding, technology, and coordination remain a major obstacle to protecting lives and livelihoods.
The NiMet boss observed that challenges such as inadequate financing, security risks, and limited access to cutting-edge meteorological technologies were slowing progress.
He stated that investments in hydrometeorological infrastructure and impact-based forecasting were critical to strengthening disaster resilience, noting that every dollar spent on early warning systems could yield up to ten times the returns, by reducing disaster losses.
The DG canvassed stronger collaboration among government agencies, international organisations, the private sector, and local communities to bridge the early warning gap, warning that government efforts alone are not enough to address the crisis.
He also honoured former Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Prof. Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi, for his pioneering work in advancing early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.
The WMO Representative in Nigeria, Bernard Gomez, while reading out a statement by the WMO Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo, harped on the need for governments to lead the way in bridging the gap on early warning, as well as strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
Gomez maintained that national meteorological and hydrological services must remain the source of authoritative warnings, while the private sector could drive innovation, strengthen dissemination, and enhance risk knowledge.
TO achieve a transition towards NetZero in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NiMet has entered into discussions with United States-based Global Green Development Group and NOAH ReGen to collaborate on the Jatropha-To-Biofuel programme.
The two organisations plan to implement the programme in 10 states.
At a meeting in Abuja, Anosike welcomed the partnership proposal, saying it was in line with the mandate of the agency to observe and monitor the atmospheric condition in Nigeria, analyse the data, generate and disseminate forecasts, which contribute to socio-economic development.
He said the partnership would also enable the parties to consistently respond to climate disasters.
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Green Development Group, Mary Flowers, said for the project to succeed in Nigeria, they require NiMet’s data.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of NOAH ReGen, Frederic Degret, pointed out that the Jatropha-To-Biofuel programme meets expectations of the Re’Planet Ecosystem launched by, and in partnership, with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
