NiMet DG identifies challenges in early warning system as Agricultural Resilience Project commences
Professor Charles Anosike, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has highlighted the hurdles hindering the effectiveness of Nigeria’s climate early warning system.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Anosike, also serving as the Chairman of the Steering Committee, identified inadequate meteorological observation networks as a primary challenge, alongside limited technical capacity, fragmented coordination, and the struggle to disseminate relevant climate advisories to smallholder farmers, particularly among rural women and youth.
“To address these gaps,” Professor Anosike remarked, “the ‘Building Agricultural Systems Resilience in Nigeria Project,’ generously funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to bolster our infrastructure for climate early action and warning systems.”
The project seeks to enhance the country’s capacity to provide timely climate information for decision-support analytics in the agriculture sector by improving analytic capabilities, tailoring climate analytics and information services to local needs, and strengthening inter-agency cooperation for enhanced early warning systems governance.
The newly inaugurated steering committee, comprises of technical directors from key ministries and agencies, technical and implementing partners, and representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will oversee the project’s implementation, provide strategic guidance, monitor progress, advocate for program coordination, and ensure effective risk management.
Notable stakeholders involved in the initiative include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The project is being managed by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Ltd.
As Nigeria grapples with the impacts of climate change on its agricultural sector, the launch of this project marks a significant step towards building resilience and fostering sustainable agricultural practices in the face of evolving climatic challenges.
