NiMet Data Hub advances climate services for Nigerian agriculture
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is developing a digital data platform aimed at improving farmers’ and other agricultural stakeholders’ access to reliable, location-specific weather and climate information for planning and decision-making.
Known as the NiMet Data Hub, the platform is being developed in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Crea2Solutions, and has progressed from the design and mock-up stage to an advanced Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
NiMet said its weather and climate services are currently being tested on the platform, which is expected to provide users with access to historical, monitored and forecast climate information.
The initiative, which commenced in February 2026 under the Climate Services for Youth (CS4Y) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) programmes, had advanced to a testable product by July.
The platform is being developed against the backdrop of challenges facing the delivery and use of climate information in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including fragmented data sources, weak coordination among information providers and difficulties in translating technical meteorological forecasts into practical advice that farmers and other producers can readily use.
The project seeks to address some of these gaps by creating a centralised digital system through which climate information can be accessed, interpreted and converted into context-specific agricultural advice.
Stakeholder engagement co-hosted by NiMet and ILRI has consequently focused on mapping Nigeria’s agro-meteorological data and advisory landscape, identifying gaps in the production and delivery of information, strengthening institutional collaboration and improving communication with users at the grassroots.
The engagement has also placed emphasis on gender and social inclusion, reflecting efforts to ensure that climate services reach different categories of agricultural producers and are delivered in forms that are useful to them.
The proposed hub is expected to serve a broad range of users, including farmers, pastoralists, agricultural extension professionals, researchers, government institutions and private-sector advisory service providers.
Through the integration of NiMet resources, including its online map rooms and agricultural climate products, the platform is expected to facilitate the development and distribution of agro-weather advisories tailored to specific locations and agricultural activities.
Such information could help producers make decisions on issues including planting, livestock management and other activities that are sensitive to weather and seasonal climate conditions.
For pastoralists and livestock keepers, access to timely weather and climate information could also support planning around weather-related risks and changing environmental conditions.
ILRI’s contribution to the project is linked to its broader work on organising research data, developing digital tools and improving the usability of information for research partners, policymakers and other decision-makers.
The development of the hub also reflects growing efforts to bridge the gap between the production of meteorological information and its practical application by people whose livelihoods are directly exposed to climate variability.
Rather than relying solely on technical forecasts, the initiative seeks to improve the conversion of climate data into actionable information that can reach farmers and agricultural advisers in a timely manner.
NiMet and its partners see stronger access to climate services as an important component of efforts to improve agricultural preparedness and resilience, particularly as farmers and other agri-food actors contend with weather and climate-related risks.
The initiative is also aligned with the food security, climate-smart agriculture and digital service priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
By improving the availability and usability of climate information, the hub is intended to help agricultural producers anticipate weather-related risks, make more informed decisions and potentially reduce losses associated with adverse climate conditions.
The platform’s development also provides an avenue for closer collaboration among meteorological authorities, research institutions, government agencies, development organisations and private advisory providers.
As testing of the NiMet weather and climate services continues, the project’s partners are expected to refine the platform and its information products based on stakeholder and user needs.
The ultimate objective is to make climate information more accessible and useful to the people and institutions that depend on it, while strengthening the role of digital technology in delivering climate-smart agricultural services across Nigeria.
