……Anosike pushes for more collaboration with state governors

By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Tuesday, unveiled the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and warned farmers not to rush into planting seeds as according to him, rainy season is yet to begin.

At the event which took place inside the main auditorium of the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Abuja, Keyamo said although there has been early rain in some parts of the country like Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa states, among others, the actual rainy reason is yet to begin, adding there would be extreme weather within March and May this year.

This is even as the Director General/CEO of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, said the agency would pursue greater collaboration with states in order to ensure that activities of the agency reach more to rural communities.

The event attracted many distinguished personalities including representatives of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume, Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security; representatives of 11 state governors, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Kingdom of Morocco, South Africa and Ghana, among others.

In his keynote speech said the SCP has become an annual event for NiMet and the Aviation Ministry, saying that NiMet has, in recent times, received testimonies and commendations on how the use of SCP information has contributed to improved crop yield and helped in disaster risk mitigation and reduction.

“These commendations have come both from government institutions and the private sector,” the Minister and expressed gladness that the early warnings of NiMet through such products and services is having positive impacts on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

According to Keyamo, the impact and effect of climate variability and climate change remain daily realities of modern times, shaping aviation safety, economic decisions, national security planning, food security.

He said- “Globally, there are hardly any days without news on extreme weather events like severe and destructive thunderstorms, heat waves, droughts, windstorms, sandstorms, and many more. These realities demand that governments place climate science and data, as well as early warning systems, at the very heart of national planning.

“The Federal government of Nigeria, under the able, competent, and transformational leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, places strong emphasis on economic stability, food security, infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, and the protection of lives and livelihoods. In this regard, the provision of timely and accurate weather information and climate services is no longer optional, but a strategic enabler of national development and good governance.

“Through our actions and programmes, we have shown that the days of viewing weather and climate warnings as a distant danger are truly behind. The level of government representation here today shows how seriously we are ready to deploy early warning tools and climate science for sustainable development. Permit me to state that the Seasonal Climate Prediction is directly aligned with the priorities of the present Administration. It is an example of science for action. Translating complex climate signals into clear, actionable guidance for decision‑makers across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. As the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the minister in charge of meteorology, I recognise that safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation cannot exist without reliable meteorological input. Beyond the safety of daily air operations, our goal is to build an industry with the potential to meet and support the economic development of our growing population. Climate data remains a critical part of the resources we are relying on to achieve this. The Ministry has been very supportive to NiMet and will continue to do so, to ensure that the Nigerian people have access to the best weather and climate information and services available. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the credibility of any climate forecast lies in its scientific foundation.”

He commended NiMet for consistently meeting its mandate, vision, and mission, saying the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction is built on global best practices of meteorology and climate science, combining weather with long‑term climatological data and climatic drivers. Key global climate drivers such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) were used in the production of this year’s SCP.

He advised the public to refer to the predicted onset dates in the SCP publication or consult NiMet for proper guidance.

in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Adam Farmata, said the SCP, which he described as annual event, remains a flagship platform for strengthening the interface between climate science and national development planning.

He said the unveiling of the Seasonal Climate Prediction is not merely a scientific exercise but a strategic national engagement aimed at empowering decision-makers with credible, timely, and actionable climate information. In a climate sensitive country as like ours, seasonal forecasts play a critical role in supporting aviation, agriculture, water resources management, disaster risk reduction, public health, transportation, energy, and infrastructure development, among others.

“The quest by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to continuously deliver on Climate Science for Sustainable Development aptly reflects the urgent need to embed climate knowledge at the heart of development processes. As climate variability and extreme weather events continue to intensify, the application of climate science becomes indispensable for safeguarding livelihoods, protecting investments, and achieving long-term socioeconomic development. Sustainable development can only be realized when climate risks are anticipated, understood, and effectively managed. Today’s event brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders: meteorologists, climatologists, policymakers, farmers, emergency managers, private sector actors, civil society organizations, development partners, and the international community.”

He said NiMet’s continued commitment to advancing climate services is vital to Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda.

“As we unveil the 2026 SCP today, I urge all stakeholders to not only receive this information but to actively use it. The true value of the seasonal climate prediction lies in its application—when forecasts inform policies, guide investments, strengthen preparedness, and ultimately protect lives and livelihoods,” the Permanent Secretary stated.

On his part, Prof. Anosike said NiMet has continued to provide authoritative and science-based knowledge, a critical factor to informed planning and decision-making in Nigeria’s rapidly changing climate.

He said that as climate variability and extreme weather events increasingly threaten lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, food security, and economic growth, timely and reliable weather and climate information have become indispensable for building safer and more climate-resilient communities across the country. Meteorological science is one of the most innovative fields in the world, with new technologies emerging every day.

Anosike said- “In recognition of this, the Management of NiMet has become proactive in adopting, domesticating, and applying these technologies in our operations. We have recently setup a team of experts, charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the Agency is at the forefront of integrating and operationalising Artificial Intelligence in our forecasting responsibilities.

“For all we do and plan to do at the Agency, there is a rich history behind it, with over a century of meteorological service in Nigeria and beyond our borders.

“From the nineteenth century to modern day era shaped by visionary leaderships, NiMet continues to lead nationally and internationally.”

He praised the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who he said has steadfastly supported NiMet and its efforts to ensure climate-smart, climate-data-backed sustainable development in Nigeria.

“We have developed partnerships with governments and non-governmental organisations, who have been critical in downscaling the SCP document to local farmers in various states. We are working assiduously to fast-track the deployment of digital advisory services in partnership with local and international collaborators. However, there is still much ground to be covered.

“I, therefore, want to use this opportunity to call for increased partnerships with the Agency, particularly from state governments. We want to be able to downscale the 2026 SCP information to more states than we did in previous years.

“Nigerian Meteorological Agency remains committed to providing timely, accurate and reliable weather and climate

information to ensure that we build a climate resilient economy,” the NiMet boss stated.

Goodwill messages were given at the event by several dignitaries representing foreign governments, national and global bodies including the World Meteorogical Organisation (WMO), CARE, Kingdom of Morocco, South Africa, Ghana, WOFAN, ECOWAS, MIHSA, MEMA and NCCC while representatives of farmers associations from Kogi, Abia, FCT, Bauchi, Nasarawa and other states gave testimonies of how NiMet warnings and advisories have impacted positively on their harvests.

Among governors represented at the event were those of Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Imo, Yobe, Osun, Enugu, Kaduna and Abia.

Others present are several farmers associations, agriculture research institutes and universities of Agriculture.