The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reiterated commitment to strengthening proactive, data-driven disaster preparedness in the country.
Director-General of NiMet Prof. Charles Anosike, made this known on Thursday at the Anticipatory Action National Conference in Abuja.
The conference was convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee Nigeria.
Prof. Anosike stressed the urgency of anticipatory action in view of Nigeria’s growing vulnerability to floods, droughts and other extreme weather events.
He noted that early warning systems had already demonstrated their life-saving potential.
“Last year, early warning systems helped save thousands of lives during the devastating floods in Nigeria. Imagine the impact we could have if data-driven anticipatory action were fully implemented across the nation,” he said.
The NiMet boss disclosed that the agency has made significant progress in upgrading its weather observation and forecasting systems through an expanded meteorological network and the deployment of advanced technologies.
According to him, tools such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) have become vital for farmers, emergency responders, urban planners and policymakers.
“By providing early warnings on rainfall patterns, drought likelihood and extreme events, we empower communities to prepare and adapt turning information into action,” he stated.
Prof. Anosike emphasized that anticipatory action must go beyond the efforts of a single institution, describing it as a collective responsibility that requires robust collaboration among government agencies, communities, the private sector and development partners.
He, however, acknowledged existing challenges including data gaps and limited access to technology in rural areas, but expressed optimism that emerging tools such as artificial intelligence, big data and mobile platforms would significantly strengthen early warning and anticipatory systems nationwide.
Calling for renewed collaboration among stakeholders, he urged participants to embrace bold ideas and closer partnerships.
“Together, we can move from reacting to disasters to anticipating and preventing them,” he said.
Prof. Anosike was also presented with an award in recognition of NiMet’s contributions to advancing data-driven solutions for disaster preparedness and climate resilience in Nigeria.
