By Miriam Humbe
The Director-General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Prof. Charles Anosike, has reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to advancing proactive, data-driven disaster preparedness in Nigeria.
The NiMet helmsman reaffirmed this at the Anticipatory Action National Conference, held on Thursday, 4th December 2025.
The conference was convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Nigeria.
While delivering a goodwill message Prof. Anosike stressed the urgency of anticipatory action, noting Nigeria’s vulnerability to floods, droughts, and extreme weather. According to him:
“Last year, early warning systems helped save thousands of lives during the devastating floods in Nigeria—imagine the impact we could have if data-driven anticipatory action were implemented across the nation.”
He reaffirmed NiMet’s progress in upgrading weather observation and forecasting systems, supported by an expanded meteorological network and advanced technologies.
He explained that tools such as the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) is now vital tool for farmers, emergency responders, urban planners, and policymakers.
“By providing early warnings on rainfall patterns, drought likelihood, and extreme events, we empower communities to prepare and adapt—turning information into action. continue to guide farmers, policymakers, and emergency responders nationwide” he said
Prof. Anosike emphasised that anticipatory action is not the responsibility of one agency alone. It demands a whole-of-society approach, where communities are engaged, systems are interoperable, and knowledge is shared freely.”
While acknowledging challenges such as data gaps and rural access to technology, he expressed confidence in emerging tools like artificial intelligence, big data, and mobile platforms to strengthen early warning and anticipatory systems.
Calling for stronger collaboration, he urged participants to think boldly and collaborate closely.
“Together, we can move from reacting to disasters to anticipating and preventing them”, he said.
During the event, Prof. Charles Anosike was also presented with an award in recognition of NiMet’s contribution to advancing data-driven solutions for disaster preparedness and climate resilience in Nigeria.
