NiMet Engages Stakeholders to Validate 2026 Climate Forecast, Boosts Sectoral Climate Action

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has convened a stakeholders’ meeting to validate its draft 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), strengthening collaboration for actionable climate planning across key sectors.

The meeting brought together officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment, aviation, agriculture, water resources, health, disaster management, and humanitarian agencies to refine the climate outlook and ensure it meets sector-specific needs.

Opening the session, NiMet Director-General Professor Charles Anosike emphasized the SCP’s role as a vital decision-making tool for sectors ranging from agriculture and aviation to health and disaster risk reduction. He stressed that stakeholder input ensures forecasts are scientifically robust and practically useful.

WMO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Roland Abah, praised NiMet for its global best-practice approach, particularly the emphasis on co-production and user engagement, calling the SCP a credible tool for building climate resilience.

Stakeholders highlighted the SCP’s practical impact. The International Rescue Committee noted its role in improving humanitarian planning, while the Women Farmers Advancement Network lauded its guidance for planting decisions, reducing losses, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers, especially women.

The Federal Ministry of Environment commended NiMet’s transition to digital climate services, noting improvements in data accessibility, transparency, and Nigeria’s climate finance potential.

The meeting reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to delivering inclusive, actionable, and sector-tailored climate services. Technical inputs from stakeholders are expected to further enhance the 2026 SCP as a tool for national planning, risk reduction, and sustainable development.