The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), on Tuesday, disclosed that about 30 per cent of marine accidents are linked to adverse weather conditions, warning that climate change and increasingly extreme weather events are heightening the risks facing maritime operations.
The agency said reliable weather information was critical to improving safety at sea, protecting vessels and crew, and ensuring efficient maritime operations, stressing the need to strengthen weather observation infrastructure and climate services.
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The Director-General of NiMet and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Professor Charles Anosike, stated this at the opening of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development titled, “Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services,” held in Lagos.
Anosike said the agency collaborated with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to provide daily maritime weather forecasts to support safe and efficient vessel operations.
“In the maritime and blue economy sector, we collaborate with NIMASA and NIWA, providing daily maritime weather forecasts designed to ensure safety and efficiency for vessels at sea,” he said.
He added that the growing impacts of climate change and more extreme weather conditions had made marine meteorological services increasingly important.
The NiMet chief noted that the need for reliable weather information extended beyond maritime operations to agriculture, aviation and disaster risk management, where timely forecasts could help businesses, governments and communities make informed decisions and reduce potential losses.
He, however, raised concerns over the significant gaps in weather observation infrastructure across Africa, noting that the continent accounted for approximately 30 per cent of the global weather and climate observation deficit.
According to him, Africa has only about 12.5 per cent of the minimum weather station density recommended by the WMO, undermining the availability of reliable data needed for accurate forecasting.
“Modernising weather and climate observation infrastructure requires significant capital investment because public budgets alone cannot cover the high costs of building, upgrading, and maintaining global and regional monitoring networks,” Anosike said.
He called for increased private-sector investment in weather radar infrastructure, remote sensing, data analytics and digital platforms to complement government funding and strengthen the delivery of reliable weather and climate services.
The NiMet director-general said public-private partnerships could combine private-sector capital, efficiency and risk-sharing with government oversight to expand observation infrastructure and improve the quality of weather information available to users.
He also urged financial institutions, development banks, philanthropic organisations and climate funds to invest in weather and climate services, noting that reliable climate information was increasingly relevant to agricultural lending, insurance pricing, infrastructure investment and the assessment of climate-related financial risks.
Anosike stressed that meteorological information delivered the greatest value when it informed concrete decisions and actions, including those aimed at preventing accidents, protecting livelihoods and reducing economic losses.
He further highlighted NiMet’s role in supporting disaster risk management through daily forecasts, three-day impact-based forecasts, probable flash flood risk maps, heavy rainfall forecasts and severe weather alerts.
However, he warned that producing forecasts alone was insufficient without effective communication to people exposed to weather-related risks.
“A forecast is not an early warning until it reaches the people at risk in a form that they can understand and, importantly, early enough for them to act,” he said.
He said NiMet was working with relevant government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), as well as other stakeholders, to strengthen the country’s implementation of the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative.
The initiative aims to improve the entire early-warning chain, from risk assessment and weather observation to forecasting, communication and preparedness.
Anosike also highlighted the agency’s contribution to aviation safety, agricultural planning and food security through specialised weather and climate products, including seasonal climate predictions, agrometeorological advisories and rainfall and temperature outlooks.
He said partnerships with government institutions, development organisations and private-sector players were helping NiMet translate weather information into practical guidance for farmers and other users.
The three-day Alliance for Hydromet Development meeting, holding from October 13 to 15, brings together representatives of governments, national meteorological and hydrological services, climate finance institutions, development partners, the private sector and research organisations to strengthen collaboration and investment in weather, water and climate services.
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