NiMet DG, WMO President Urge Increased Investment in Weather, Climate Services
Oru Leonard
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, and the President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, have called for increased investment in weather and climate services to strengthen early-warning systems and address Africa’s persistent observation gaps.
The call was made at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, from October 13 to 15, 2026.
Speaking at the event, Anosike, who is also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the WMO, emphasised the need for investment in weather observation infrastructure, remote sensing, data analytics and digital platforms to improve the continent’s capacity to monitor and predict weather and climate conditions.
He disclosed that Africa accounts for approximately 30 per cent of the global weather and climate observation deficit, leaving the continent vulnerable to weather-related disasters and limiting the effectiveness of early-warning systems.
According to him, Africa has only about 12.5 per cent of the minimum weather station density recommended by the WMO, while compliance rates for surface land and upper-air observation stations stand at seven per cent and nine per cent, respectively, across 53 African countries.
Anosike stressed that governments could not address the growing demand for reliable weather and climate information through public funding alone, calling for stronger public-private partnerships to bridge critical data gaps.
He also highlighted NiMet’s contributions to aviation safety, agriculture, maritime operations and disaster risk management, noting that reliable meteorological information was essential for informed decision-making across these sectors.
The NiMet chief further underscored the importance of translating weather forecasts and climate information into practical guidance while strengthening early-warning systems to protect lives, livelihoods and economic activities.
In his remarks, the WMO President, Dr Al Mandous, urged Nigeria and other African countries to increase investment in meteorological and hydrological services to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events and support sustainable economic development.
He described the period leading to 2030 as critical to closing existing capacity gaps in weather, water and climate services, stressing the need for coordinated action by governments, development partners and other stakeholders.
Al Mandous also commended Nigeria’s growing role in regional cooperation, noting that the country had progressed from receiving technical assistance to sharing expertise with other nations.
He cited Nigeria’s support for Burkina Faso as a peer reviewer under the Country Hydromet Assessment initiative as an example of the country’s contribution to strengthening regional capacity.
The WMO President called on governments and development partners to prioritise funding, strengthen institutional frameworks, deepen partnerships with key economic sectors and promote regional collaboration.
“Our direction is clear: to turn assessments into investments, investments into lasting capacity, and early warnings into early action that saves lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Anosike, in turn, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, for their support in strengthening NiMet’s institutional capacity and operational efficiency.
The three-day meeting brings together government representatives, development partners, financial institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and identify investment priorities aimed at closing capacity gaps in weather, water and climate services by 2030.
The meeting is expected to advance discussions on sustainable financing, infrastructure development and partnerships needed to improve Africa’s ability to provide reliable weather information, strengthen disaster preparedness and build resilience against climate-related risks.
