General News
NiMet, WMO Raise Alarm Over Africa’s Severe Weather Data Gaps
By Iyojo Ameh
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have called for urgent investment in weather and climate services across Africa, warning that inadequate observation infrastructure is undermining the continent’s capacity to deliver reliable forecasts and effective early-warning systems.
The Director-General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, and WMO President, Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, made the call at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, which opened in Lagos on October 13 and is scheduled to end on October 15.
Anosike, who also serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the WMO, disclosed that Africa accounts for approximately 30 per cent of the global deficit in weather and climate observations.
He said the continent has only about 12.5 per cent of the minimum weather station density recommended by the WMO, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure gap confronting African countries.
According to him, compliance with recommended standards for surface land stations and upper-air stations stands at seven per cent and nine per cent, respectively, across 53 African countries.
The NiMet chief stressed that closing these gaps would require substantial investment in weather observation infrastructure, remote sensing technology, data analytics and digital platforms.
He noted that government funding alone could not meet the continent’s growing needs, urging increased private-sector participation and stronger public-private partnerships to improve data collection and management.
Anosike also underscored the importance of meteorological services to critical sectors, including aviation, agriculture, maritime operations and disaster risk management.
He said weather information must be made more accessible and translated into practical guidance that enables governments, businesses and communities to make informed decisions and respond promptly to emerging threats.
Al Mandous, in his remarks, urged African governments to prioritise investment in meteorological and hydrological services to protect lives, safeguard livelihoods and strengthen disaster preparedness.
He described the period leading to 2030 as a critical window for addressing existing capacity gaps, noting that sustained financial commitments and stronger institutional frameworks would be essential to achieving meaningful progress.
The WMO president also commended Nigeria for its growing contribution to regional cooperation, observing that the country had progressed from receiving technical assistance to providing expertise to other African nations.
He cited Nigeria’s role in supporting Burkina Faso as a peer reviewer under the Country Hydromet Assessment initiative as an example of its contribution to regional capacity development.
Al Mandous called on governments and development partners to mobilise more funding, strengthen institutional structures, deepen regional collaboration and engage economic sectors in improving weather and climate services.
“Our direction is clear: to turn assessments into investments, investments into lasting capacity, and early warnings into early action that saves lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Anosike expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, for their support in strengthening NiMet’s institutional capacity and operational efficiency.
The three-day meeting has attracted government representatives, development partners, financial institutions and other stakeholders seeking to identify investment priorities and strengthen cooperation to close gaps in weather, water and climate services across Africa by 2030.
