Nigeria Commited To Tackling Climate Change — Aviation Minister

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s firm commitment to regional cooperation and climate resilience efforts.

He made this known in Abuja when he received the director-general of AGRHYMET Regional Centre, Dr. Issoufou Baoua, who led a high-level delegation to the ministry as part of the joint mission on the operationalisation of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS).

Dr. Baoua was accompanied by senior officials including Abdou Ali (AGRHYMET), Alhassane Agoli, Bernard Edward Gomez (WMO Representative for North, Central and West Africa), and former Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu.

The mission was jointly undertaken in company of the current DG/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike.

Special adviser to the minister on media, Tunde Moshood, said the visit centred on strengthening collaboration toward the full operationalisation of RCC-WAS — a strategic regional initiative aimed at enhancing climate services, improving adaptive capacity, and supporting evidence-based decision-making across West Africa and the Sahel.

In his remarks, Dr. Baoua briefed the minister on the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NiMet on the operationalisation of RCC-WAS, noting that Nigeria is the first point of call for the mission and remains the only English-speaking country among the 17 member-states involved — a region where the Sahel plays a pivotal role.

He highlighted the core objectives of the joint mission, which include strengthening institutional partnerships, aligning regional priorities, identifying capacity-building gaps, and establishing clear milestones for the effective take-off of RCC-WAS.

Dr. Baoua emphasised that the MoU with NiMet will fast-track the commencement of the regional centre, adding that “the mission depends on donor support and goodwill, and we will continue to rely on Nigeria’s unwavering leadership.”

Responding, the minister welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s firm commitment to regional cooperation and climate resilience efforts.

He stated that “Nigeria is a global player when it comes to regional commitments. We are big players and we do not shy away from our responsibilities. We are still hosting and funding the WMO office in Abuja, and we will continue to support this mission — financially and otherwise.”

The minister further commended AGRHYMET and WMO for their leadership in advancing climate services across the region, noting that the operationalisation of RCC-WAS will significantly enhance early warning capabilities, aviation safety planning, and climate-related research beneficial to both Nigeria and the wider West African community.