The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has advanced preparations for its 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by convening a high-level stakeholders’ meeting aimed at validating the draft forecast and strengthening sector-specific recommendations through collaboration.
The meeting brought together key institutions drawn from aviation, agriculture, water resources, disaster risk management, health, humanitarian response and finance, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Environment. The engagement provided a platform to refine the 2026 climate outlook and ensure it remains practical, relevant and responsive to national needs.
Opening the session, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, who also serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization, underscored the importance of the Seasonal Climate Prediction to national planning and development. He described the annual forecast as a critical decision-support tool for sectors such as aviation, agriculture, transportation, construction, health and disaster risk reduction.
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Professor Anosike stressed that stakeholder engagement is central to NiMet’s climate service delivery, noting that feedback from users helps ensure the predictions are both scientifically robust and tailored to real-world demands. He added that increasing climate variability and extreme weather events make collective action essential, urging partners to translate climate information into practical measures that protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
The World Meteorological Organization Representative to Nigeria, Dr Roland Abah, commended NiMet for aligning its Seasonal Climate Prediction process with global best practices. He noted that the agency’s emphasis on user engagement and co-production has positioned the SCP as a dependable tool for strengthening climate resilience across multiple sectors.
Also speaking, the Country Director of the International Rescue Committee, Mr Babatunde Ojei, praised NiMet for the consistency and reliability of its forecasts. He said the SCP has significantly improved humanitarian planning, early action and anticipatory response, especially in communities most vulnerable to climate shocks.
The Director of Strategy and Innovation at the Women Farmers Advancement Network, Hajiya Maimuna Lawal, described NiMet’s climate information as practical and farmer-friendly. According to her, the Seasonal Climate Prediction has become indispensable for guiding planting decisions, reducing losses and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Jonah D. Barde applauded NiMet’s track record in delivering timely and dependable climate data that supports national environmental policies and climate action. He highlighted the agency’s transition to digital climate services as a forward-looking move that enhances data access, transparency and efficiency, while also contributing to Nigeria’s climate finance efforts, including the development of carbon credit initiatives.
The meeting reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to inclusive and actionable climate services, as well as stronger partnerships at national and international levels. As consultations continue, stakeholders are expected to provide technical inputs that will further strengthen the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, positioning it as a vital tool for planning, risk reduction and sustainable development in Nigeria and the wider region.
