By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has announced plans to strengthen urban climate monitoring across Nigeria through the deployment of next-generation Internet of Things (IoT)-powered, LoRaWAN-enabled weather stations.
The technological upgrade, a product of collaboration between Barani Design Technologies and the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), is expected to significantly improve the precision, speed, and efficiency of weather data collection across the country’s urban centers.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, NiMet’s Director-General/CEO, represented by Engr. Hamid Abdulkareem, Director of Engineering and Technical Services, described the initiative as a strategic and innovative leap in Nigeria’s weather forecasting value chain.
“This initiative marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing accurate and timely weather information. These advanced weather stations will be instrumental in helping us meet our service delivery targets,” he said.
He noted that the new devices complement the 25 Barani Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) already operational within NiMet’s network, while 59 additional compact automatic weather stations including Barani products are being reactivated nationwide to enhance observation coverage and forecasting capabilities.
The NiMet DG also emphasized the importance of sustainability, urging Barani Design Technologies and WASCAL to continue engaging NiMet’s technical team in capacity-building programs to ensure the long-term maintenance and seamless data transmission of the automated stations.
In his remarks, Mr. Jan Barani, CEO of Barani Design Technologies, commended NiMet’s leadership and reaffirmed his company’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s climate monitoring systems.
“This new generation of smart, energy-efficient weather stations has been developed to deliver more accurate and reliable data across urban areas,” Barani explained. “The breakthrough supports the evolution of smart cities, where modern IoT-based monitoring systems replace traditional models that often struggle with inconsistent readings and relocation challenges.”
He added that the devices are optimized for low power consumption, a benefit made possible by recent advancements in IoT wireless technologies.
Also speaking, Mr. Diallo Abdulaziz, Coordinator of the Data Management Department at WASCAL, highlighted the collaboration’s goal of strengthening NiMet’s network infrastructure through improved power and connectivity solutions for weather stations nationwide.
According to him, all installations will adhere strictly to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards, ensuring that the data produced remains globally comparable and useful for climate research, policy planning, and forecasting accuracy.
The deployment of these IoT-enabled weather stations is expected to mark a turning point in Nigeria’s climate observation capacity enhancing resilience, supporting data-driven decision-making, and advancing the nation’s participation in global climate action efforts.
