NiMet DG Backs Proactive Flood Preparedness at Anticipatory Action Task Force Meeting Hosted by VP Shettima
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to proactive flood preparedness, highlighting the critical role of impact-based forecasts in mitigating climate disasters.
Prof. Anosike made this statement on Tuesday, 18th March 2025, during the Anticipatory Action Task Force on Floods (AATF) meeting hosted by Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) is a strategic initiative designed to transition Nigeria’s flood response framework from reactive disaster relief to proactive preparedness.
The initiative aligns with key international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change — all of which emphasise the importance of early action to mitigate the devastating impacts of natural disasters on vulnerable communities.
During the meeting, members of the AATF provided the Vice President with updates on their agencies’ preparedness and ongoing efforts aimed at reducing the impact of floods across Nigeria.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima underscored the urgency of adopting a proactive approach to flood management, citing the devastating human and economic toll of floods in Nigeria.
“We cannot afford to wait for disaster to strike before taking action. We must act now to protect lives and livelihoods by leveraging science, technology, and collaboration,” Shettima stated.
The NiMet boss commended the Vice President for his decisive leadership in driving anticipatory action for climate resilience.
He emphasised that NiMet’s impact-based forecasts play a pivotal role in facilitating timely responses to extreme weather events.
“These forecasts enable individuals and vulnerable communities to respond effectively. Therefore, by integrating NiMet’s forecasts with other components of early warning systems, we can enhance risk awareness and response capabilities,” Anosike said.
He outlined key priority areas for enhancing NiMet’s forecasting capabilities, including improving weather models, increasing investment in forecast technology, expanding the network of weather stations, enhancing in-situ observation systems, improving data assimilation capacity, and incorporating machine learning techniques to refine predictive accuracy.
The AATF meeting reflects Nigeria’s growing commitment to shifting from crisis response to climate resilience through scientific innovation and strategic collaboration.
Prof. Anosike’s participation underscores NiMet’s role in driving this transformation, positioning Nigeria to better anticipate and mitigate the impact of future floods.
