By Gabriel Ameh
📍Abuja — The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on data sharing aimed at improving economic research, policy formulation and national planning.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Charles Anosike, and the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Prof. Anosike said the partnership would enhance the integration of weather and climate information into key economic sectors such as agriculture, transportation and energy.
According to him, climate-related disasters and extreme weather conditions continue to threaten agricultural productivity and food security across Africa and the world.
He explained that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the administration’s focus on strengthening food security through large-scale agricultural investments, mechanised farming and expanded cultivation.
Prof. Anosike cited recent global reports showing the growing impact of climate change on food systems, noting that millions of people across Africa are facing hunger due to extreme weather conditions and rising environmental pressures.
In his remarks, Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi described the MoU as a strategic step toward deepening collaboration between two critical national institutions responsible for research, data and policy support.
He said the CBN depends on credible and timely meteorological information from NiMet for inflation monitoring, agricultural assessments and broader economic policy analysis.
According to him, stronger institutional partnerships and reliable data systems are essential for evidence-based policymaking, especially in a rapidly changing economic environment.
The agreement is expected to improve data-driven forecasting, strengthen economic resilience and support national development planning in climate-sensitive sectors.
