Nigeria, Partners Push For Early Warning Against Climate Health Risks

Government agencies in Nigeria and international partners have reiterated their commitment to developing an integrated early warning system to help Nigeria better respond to the health impacts of climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation.

The call was made at the National Early Warning Services for Health (WISER) workshop, held in Lagos yesterday, which was designed to support Nigeria’s drive to achieve its climate and health targets under the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0).

The workshop, hosted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, brought together experts from disaster management, hydrology, public orientation, agriculture, and economic planning sectors.

Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Health at the British High Commission in Abuja, Juliet Whitley, said Nigeria is making progress in developing early warning systems that will help the health sector better prepare for extreme weather events.

She said the United Kingdom is proud to support Nigeria’s efforts to build a more climate-resilient health system capable of responding to climate-related risks.

Director and Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Health Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Zakariya Mohammed,  said the integration of health into Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 framework provides a strong foundation for collaboration toward an operational early warning system. He described the workshop as a practical step toward strengthening nationwide climate and health risk management.

The Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and Climate Change Desk Officer at NEMA, Isa Abulkasir, said the initiative will help mitigate climate-related health risks, enhance community resilience, and reduce the impact of climate-sensitive diseases and disasters.

A spokesperson for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency stressed that building an efficient early warning system is a national priority, adding that accurate and timely climate forecasts must be translated into early action to protect lives and livelihoods.

Officials expressed optimism that the collaboration among health, climate, and development partners would help transform climate information into actionable intelligence to build safer, healthier communities across Nigeria. The NDC 3.0 framework, published by the federal government in 2025, seeks to establish a national integrated climate, health, and environmental early warning system across at least 18 states by 2030.

Other participating agencies include the National Emergency Management Agency, National Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Orientation Agency, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Lagos State Government.