NiMet Warns of Impending Extreme Weather, Urges National Preparedness

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians to brace for more intense and unpredictable weather conditions in the coming days, citing the accelerating effects of climate change.

Speaking at a sensitization forum in Abuja, Director-General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, highlighted the potential consequences of the anticipated climatic shifts. These, he said, include severe damage to infrastructure, disruption of agricultural activities, displacement of communities, and possible loss of lives.

The awareness forum, organized in partnership with First Green White Resources, was aimed at promoting national consciousness on the need for climate adaptation and proactive disaster risk management.

Professor Anosike stressed the critical role of the media in ensuring timely and effective dissemination of weather information to the public. “The media is critical to ensuring disaster risk awareness and guiding food security decisions,” he said. “Our forecasts must not just be accurate—they must also be accessible and actionable by every Nigerian.”

As part of its strategic reforms, NiMet is aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by enhancing service delivery, investing in staff capacity building, and improving welfare within the agency.

To further bolster early warning systems, NiMet revealed that it is in discussions with telecoms operator MTN to deliver real-time weather alerts to mobile users in various local languages. The innovation is expected to deepen grassroots preparedness and community resilience.

Professor Anosike concluded by urging Nigerians to stay informed and act promptly on weather advisories, stressing that proactive response remains key to mitigating the growing threats of climate-induced disasters.