Nigeria’s meteorological agency and international partners are calling for greater public and private investment in weather, climate and water services, arguing that stronger forecasting systems are essential to reducing disaster risks and supporting economic planning.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency reported on October 14 that discussions during the Alliance for Hydromet Development’s 2026 annual meeting in Lagos focused on financing gaps and the need to expand access to reliable hydrometeorological information. The meeting ran from October 13 to 15.
Weather and water services support decisions across agriculture, aviation, transport, energy, public health and emergency management. Timely forecasts can help farmers plan fieldwork, give communities more time to prepare for floods and help authorities coordinate responses to severe weather.
The agency’s report also pointed to a need to close hydromet capacity gaps by 2030. Nigeria approved ₦83.2 billion in June for flood-related and other emergency interventions, while a climate investment platform is targeting US$500 million, according to the agency’s account.
Investment needs to extend beyond equipment. Observation networks, reliable data, skilled forecasters, communications infrastructure and public access to understandable warnings all influence whether information reaches people in time to act.
As climate risks become more difficult to manage, the challenge is to turn funding pledges into dependable services that reach rural communities and vulnerable urban neighbourhoods, not only major cities and institutions.
Source: Nigeria Meteorological Agency.