PFSCU, NiMet Forge Strategic Partnership to Bolster President Tinubu’s Food Security Agenda
The Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have commenced discussions on a collaborative approach aimed at addressing the country’s ongoing food crises.
The dialogue, which took place on Thursday, 22nd August 2024, at the NiMet headquarters in Abuja, underscores the pivotal role that meteorological data will play in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
The PFSCU delegation, led by Marion Moon, Secretary of the PFSCU Board and Technical Assistant on Agriculture to the President, was received by NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike.
During the meeting, both parties explored avenues for integrating NiMet’s extensive meteorological data into the national food security framework.
Ms. Moon, in her address, highlighted the critical function of NiMet in the country’s food security ecosystem, emphasising that the agency’s contributions are indispensable to the strategic data analysis required by the PFSCU.
She noted that the PFSCU, established in June 2024 under the Office of the Vice President, is dedicated to providing essential information to facilitate decision-making at the highest levels of government.
“Given the current food crises in the country and the importance of the agricultural sector to Nigeria, Mr. President approved the creation of the PFSCU in June 2024.
“The unit is anchored in the office of the Vice President and supports His Excellency in providing strategic data analysis that will enable Mr. President to make decisions aimed at achieving food security in Nigeria, and other priorities set out in the renewed hope agenda, and transforming them into action,” Moon stated.
She further explained that the PFSCU is focused on expanding the food security dashboard, a critical tool that provides timely and accurate information to President Tinubu and the economic team.
“It’s very important that Mr. President and the economic team have the right information at the right time. This is where NiMet comes in. A key part of that is meteorological data. We need to plan, especially now with climate change,” she added.
Moon underscored the importance of leveraging NiMet’s data to advise on mitigating risks such as flooding and drought, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change.
“We want that information to sit right there with Mr. President, when he’s sitting with his ministers, the governors, other decision-makers, and stakeholders,” she remarked.
Responding to these statements, Professor Anosike reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to supporting the PFSCU’s objectives.
He noted that NiMet possesses over 100 years of meteorological and climate data, which is crucial for weather forecasting and climate adaptation strategies.
“Weather forecasting is the primary thing that we do as we observe and monitor the atmosphere. Climate science supports adaptation and mitigation strategies, so we’re involved in all adaptation and mitigation activities,” Anosike said.
He further elaborated on NiMet’s role in disseminating vital information to the public, particularly through the annual seasonal climate prediction, which is published in various local languages and downscaled to reach farmers in different states.
According to Anosike, NiMet also employs radio and other channels to ensure that farmers and other stakeholders can make informed decisions.
“We will work with PFSCU and provide the data and information the way it is required for the food security dashboard,” Anosike assured.
The meeting marks a significant step towards integrating meteorological data into Nigeria’s food security strategies, aligning with President Tinubu’s vision of a food-secure nation.
The collaboration between PFSCU and NiMet is expected to enhance the government’s capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-related challenges, thereby safeguarding the agricultural sector and ensuring food availability for all Nigerians.
