NiMet has urged airlines, government agencies, and stakeholders to increase funding for vital weather services.
Officials say sustained support is essential to avert disasters and improve Nigeria’s climate preparedness nationwide.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has appealed for increased funding from government institutions, airlines, and other beneficiaries of its services, stressing that sustainable financial support is vital to avert weather-related disasters across the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum in Lagos on Wednesday, NiMet’s Director-General, Professor Charles Anosike, stated that the agency could no longer rely solely on government subventions to meet the increasing demand for its weather and climate services.
Anosike highlighted NiMet’s contributions to multiple sectors, including agriculture, real estate, the environment, and aviation. He noted that sustaining these services requires continuous investment in technology, as well as training and retraining of staff.
“Despite limited resources, the quality of our service has never been compromised. NiMet continues to expand its scope of operations in line with our establishment mandate. Hence, this is a clarion call for support across various sectors to recover more costs and improve our overall service delivery,” he said.
He reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to supporting government efforts to mitigate climate change impacts, boost food security, and promote climate-smart development. The agency, he added, remains central to disaster risk reduction through tailored weather products and forecasts.
The DG disclosed that Nigeria now has five ISO-certified airports, with Enugu Airport recently joining the list alongside Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.
“Our goal is to ensure more airports are brought up to international standards through certification,” Anosike said.
Other stakeholders at the forum stressed the urgency of climate action. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Farouk Ahmed, represented by Director of Operations, Mr. Tayo John, warned that climate change poses growing risks to aviation safety.
He pointed to turbulence, flooding, heat waves, and severe weather as threats to flight safety, airport infrastructure, and operational costs.
“Climate-related factors such as turbulence and severe weather events increase the risk of accidents. Heat waves reduce aircraft performance, while flooding and thunderstorms damage airport infrastructure. Rising maintenance costs are also a growing concern,” Ahmed noted.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Badeh Jr., praised NiMet’s forecasting tools, such as the Seasonal Climate Predictions, for their role in improving preparedness in agriculture, transportation, and emergency response.
He emphasised that early warnings must translate into proactive actions:
“By bringing stakeholders together to share expertise, NiMet is helping to drive actionable solutions. NSIB remains committed to working with NiMet to ensure that forecasts protect lives, property, and strengthen climate resilience,” Badeh said.
