By Gabriel Ameh
Media360Impact
LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria faces growing climate-related risks, including flooding, extreme heat and threats to food production, as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and climate experts call for increased investment in weather forecasting and early-warning systems.
The call was made at the 2026 annual meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, hosted by NiMet in Lagos under the theme, “Partnership, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services.”
Participants, including government officials, climate finance institutions, researchers, development partners and private-sector representatives, stressed that reliable weather information is essential for protecting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from Nigeria and other countries, including Chad, Niger and the United Arab Emirates, to discuss ways of turning weather and climate data into practical action.
WMO Calls for Sustainable Investment
WMO President Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous said closing gaps in weather and climate services required stronger international cooperation, sustainable financing and effective partnerships.
He described reliable weather, water and climate information as critical national infrastructure, noting that agriculture, energy, transportation, healthcare and water management depend on accurate forecasts and timely warnings.
Al Mandous said the Alliance for Hydromet Development, launched at the 2019 United Nations climate conference in Madrid, was working towards closing gaps in weather and climate services by 2030.
He urged governments to strengthen meteorological and hydrological institutions, improve regulatory frameworks, expand regional cooperation and mobilise more investment.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s contribution to regional cooperation, including efforts to support meteorological capacity-building in other African countries.
Remarks delivered at the meeting indicated that investments in Nigeria’s weather and climate services under ECOWAS-related initiatives had been associated with estimated economic returns of 19 to 1.
The figure underscores the potential economic value of investing in reliable forecasting and early-warning infrastructure.
NiMet Seeks More Weather Stations and Forecasting Equipment
NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, said Nigeria must move beyond collecting weather data to ensuring that forecasts inform decisions by governments, farmers, businesses and communities.
He identified inadequate observation infrastructure as a major challenge, particularly across rural communities, agricultural areas and remote border locations.
Anosike called for increased investment in weather stations, radar systems, remote sensing technology and digital platforms to improve forecasting accuracy and expand access to reliable information.
He said NiMet provides seasonal climate predictions, daily weather forecasts, agricultural advisories, flood-risk information, maritime forecasts and severe-weather alerts.
These services support sectors including aviation, agriculture, shipping and disaster management.
According to him, partnerships with government agencies, research institutions, development organisations and private businesses are also helping translate forecasts into practical advice.
The agency is exploring the use of artificial intelligence and digital advisory systems to provide farmers with more accessible weather information. Weather-indexed insurance is another initiative being considered to help agricultural businesses manage climate-related risks.
Anosike stressed that forecasts alone were insufficient if people exposed to danger could not receive and understand warnings in time.
“A forecast is not an early warning until it reaches the people at risk in a form that they can understand and importantly, early enough,” he said.
‘No Country Can Forecast Alone’
Daniel Kull, WMO Director of Development Partnerships and Programme Delivery, said international cooperation remained essential to improving weather observation and forecasting capacity.
“No country can forecast alone,” Kull said, calling for countries and development partners to share expertise, resources and technical knowledge.
He also emphasised the need to recognise meteorological services as critical national infrastructure and provide sustainable funding for equipment, daily operations and skilled personnel.
Participants highlighted the growing role of satellite observation, numerical weather prediction, artificial intelligence and data analytics in improving the accuracy and accessibility of weather information.
However, they warned that technological progress would have limited benefits unless forecasts were communicated in ways that enabled people to take timely action.
Climate Risks Threaten Food Security and Household Welfare
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, co-founder and chair of Sahel Consulting, said climate information was closely linked to food security, public health and household welfare.
She noted that changing rainfall patterns, flooding and extreme heat could disrupt agricultural production, increase financial pressure on households and worsen health risks.
Nwuneli called for stronger collaboration among climate services, agricultural institutions, healthcare providers, insurance companies and financial institutions.
She argued that reliable weather information must influence decisions on infrastructure, agricultural production and investment.
“The data is the foundation. The collaboration and the critical partnerships are needed,” she said.
Nwuneli also expressed concern about Africa’s limited access to global climate finance, calling for increased investment in the continent’s ability to anticipate and manage climate-related risks.
She stressed that climate information would have limited impact if governments and businesses failed to use it to protect communities, livelihoods and investments.
Lagos Warns of Flooding and Extreme Weather
Representing the Lagos State governor, Special Adviser on Blue Economy Oluwa-Damilola Emmanuel said flooding and extreme weather posed serious threats to lives, infrastructure and economic activities, particularly in coastal cities such as Lagos.
He cited the 2022 floods in Nigeria, which displaced more than 2.4 million people, killed more than 700 and caused an estimated $1.84 billion in damage.
Emmanuel said reliable forecasts and effective early-warning systems could help communities prepare for disasters and reduce losses.
He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, emergency responders, researchers, meteorological services and private investors.
He added that investment must extend beyond purchasing forecasting equipment to include maintenance, technical expertise and long-term operational capacity.
“Our partnership must produce action, our innovations must solve real problems and our investments must deliver lasting public value,” Emmanuel said.
Federal Government Reaffirms Support
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to developing the meteorological sector, according to the meeting notes.
His remarks highlighted the importance of reliable weather information to aviation safety and the need for sustained government support.
Representatives of the Office of the President on disaster affairs and other government institutions also attended the meeting, reflecting the connection between weather forecasting, emergency preparedness and national development.
Participants stressed that early-warning systems could only be effective when alerts reached vulnerable communities in time and were supported by practical response plans.
They called for improved coordination among meteorological agencies, policymakers, emergency services and local communities to ensure forecasts lead to timely action.
2030 Target Raises Urgency for Action
The Alliance for Hydromet Development brings together development, humanitarian and climate finance institutions to help countries strengthen weather, water and climate services.
Its work includes identifying gaps in national capacity and supporting investments in basic weather and climate observation systems.
With the 2030 target approaching, participants urged governments and development partners to turn assessments into funded projects, strengthen national forecasting capacity and expand cooperation across borders and economic sectors.
The meeting’s central message was clear: weather forecasting and early-warning systems must be treated as essential investments in Nigeria’s national security, food production and economic development.
For communities facing floods, extreme heat and unpredictable rainfall, improved forecasts could mean the difference between early preparation and devastating losses.
Source Credit: Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), based on remarks and information provided from the 2026 annual meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development in Lagos.
