NiMet Boss Calls For Increased Investment, Partnerships To Boost Operations
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike has called for increased investment and stronger public private partnerships to enhance weather and climate observation systems in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 2026 World Meteorological Day celebration on Wednesday, in Abuja, Anosike said accurate and timely weather observations remain critical to safeguarding lives, supporting economic activities, and improving decision making across sectors.
TheFact Daily reports that the event commemorated globally under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is marked annually on March 23.
This year’s theme, “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow,” underscores the importance of data collection in strengthening future forecasts and climate resilience.
Anosike noted that NiMet has expanded and modernised its meteorological infrastructure over the years, including surface and upper-air observation networks, satellite data systems, and automatic weather stations.
“These observations support safer aviation operations, improved agricultural planning, disaster preparedness, and maritime safety,” he said.
He added that Nigeria, through NiMet, is also supporting other African countries including Liberia, Niger, Somalia, and Burkina Faso with technical advisory services to strengthen their meteorological observation capacity.
Despite these advances, the NiMet boss warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, placing greater demand on meteorological services.
He cited findings from the agency’s State of the Climate in Nigeria 2025 report, which showed that at least 23 cities recorded extreme temperatures of 40°C and above, with Nguru in Yobe State experiencing up to 100 such days.
He also noted a rise in flooding incidents nationwide.
According to him, the growing challenges require collaboration beyond government efforts.
“The private sector has a critical role to play in investing in weather stations, data analytics platforms, and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to complement national systems,” Anosike said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo highlighted the crucial role of meteorological data in aviation safety, noting that real-time weather information guides flight operations and helps prevent accidents.
He called for investment in weather-resilient infrastructure and the integration of advanced technologies to improve forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Mohammed, commended NiMet’s contributions to disaster risk reduction and national development, urging stakeholders to make greater use of weather and climate forecasts.
Similarly, a representative of the WMO for North Central and West Africa Dr. Roland Abah,warned that extreme weather remains the top long term global risk, citing rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and sandstorms across Africa.
He stressed that investment in meteorological observation systems is costly but essential, calling on both public and private sectors to support NiMet’s efforts.
The World Meteorological Day celebration brought together stakeholders from aviation, hydrology, academia, and the private sector, all reaffirming the need for improved data systems to strengthen resilience against climate variability and extreme weather events.
