NiMet, CBN Sign Landmark Data-Sharing Agreement to Strengthen Economic Policy Decisions

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Central Bank of Nigeria have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on data sharing aimed at improving economic research, policy planning and national decision-making.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Charles Anosike, and the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Prof. Anosike stressed the growing importance of integrating weather and climate information into economic planning, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture, transportation and energy.

According to him, extreme weather conditions continue to threaten agricultural productivity and food security across Africa and globally.

He noted that the partnership aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially the administration’s focus on food security through large-scale agricultural investments, including plans to cultivate 10 million hectares of land and expand mechanised farming.

Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report indicating that climate change-driven extreme weather has worsened food insecurity, with over 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and another 52 million affected in West and Central Africa.

He also referenced the 2026 Berkeley Earth Report, which projected that 2026 could become the fourth warmest year ever recorded globally, warning that rising temperatures are increasingly influencing agricultural output and energy market forecasts.

In his remarks, Abdullahi described the agreement as a major step toward deepening institutional collaboration between two agencies whose responsibilities intersect in data, research and policy support.

He said the current economic environment requires timely, credible and data-driven responses from policymakers.

According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN relies heavily on accurate statistical and meteorological information from NiMet for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector analysis and broader economic policy advisory functions.

Abdullahi added that the partnership would strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve the robustness of Nigeria’s national data systems.

The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Anosike and Abdullahi on behalf of their respective institutions at the close of the event.