NiMet Presents Maiden Livestock Weather Bulletin to Livestock Minister, Seeks Climate-Smart Collaboration
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has presented the maiden edition of its Livestock Weather Bulletin to the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, as part of efforts to strengthen climate-smart livestock production and enhance resilience across the sector.
The presentation took place on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, during a courtesy visit by a NiMet delegation led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Anosike said the bulletin was designed to provide timely, accurate and sector-specific weather information to support livestock farmers in their daily operations and long-term planning.
He explained that the Livestock Weather Bulletin would enable farmers to make informed decisions that improve productivity while reducing exposure to climate and weather-related risks.
According to him, weather and climate information play a critical role in livestock production, influencing animal health, including heat stress and disease prevalence, as well as feed and water availability through pasture growth and drought conditions.
He added that meteorological data also affect breeding cycles and routine farm operations such as housing, waste management and overall animal welfare.
“Reliable weather forecasts help livestock farmers take proactive decisions that minimise financial losses and improve production outcomes,” Professor Anosike said, noting that access to tailored meteorological information is increasingly important in the face of climate variability and extreme weather events.
He further reaffirmed NiMet’s statutory mandate as Nigeria’s national authority for weather and climate services and expressed the Agency’s readiness to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Professor Anosike said NiMet was prepared to provide training and capacity-building support for extension officers and livestock farmers to enhance the effective use of weather information and promote climate-resilient livestock systems nationwide.
In his response, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, underscored the importance of accurate weather information and forecasting to the livestock industry.
Drawing from personal experience, the Minister said weather forecasts have practical value in managing his private farming investments and remain central to planning and decision-making on the farm.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry has identified 417 grazing reserves across the country and has recently received approval for their rehabilitation.
He stressed that collaboration with NiMet would be vital to ensuring that the rehabilitation programme is climate-smart and resilient to prevailing and future weather challenges.
Alhaji Maiha also revealed plans to establish a situation room in the Ministry’s new office complex, where live weather data would be displayed on a dedicated dashboard to support real-time decision-making.
He welcomed NiMet’s initiative and alignment with the Federal Government’s policies aimed at modernising and repositioning the livestock sector.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing to establish a technical working group by January 2026 to identify and prioritise areas of collaboration.
It was also agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding would be drafted and signed in the first quarter of 2026 to formalise cooperation on weather data sharing, training and capacity building.
Plans were also outlined to organise joint workshops and training programmes in early 2026 to deepen the application of meteorological information within the livestock sector.
