The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) have agreed to collaborate on promoting maritime weather observation, early warning systems, and capacity building focused on marine meteorology for MOWCA member states.
This partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Thursday, December 5, 2024, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking at the MoU signing, Prof. Charles Anosike, the director-general of NiMet, emphasised the significance of international cooperation in enhancing meteorological services. He stated that NiMet would leverage MOWCA’s mandate to improve its service delivery, particularly in the maritime sector. “NiMet is the authoritative voice on Nigeria’s atmospheric conditions and their interaction with the economy. As weather, climate, and water cycles are beyond any one country’s control, regional collaboration is key to advancing meteorology,” Anosike said.
He further highlighted the shared challenges faced by the region, including maritime safety, security, and pollution. “West and Central Africa heavily depend on maritime transport, making it essential to broadcast weather information to ships twice daily as required by the SOLAS Convention and the World Meteorological Organisation. This includes quality data, analysis, warnings and forecasts,” he explained. He called for better regional data exchange, urging investment in ocean observation infrastructure to ensure comprehensive coverage of shipping routes and fishing areas in MOWCA member states.
Anosike concluded by emphasising the opportunity for both organizations to promote compliance with the SOLAS convention and urged for financial support to build the infrastructure needed for regional weather information sharing.
In response, secretary-general of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu acknowledged NiMet’s critical role in providing timely weather and climate information. “The role of meteorological agencies in maritime operations is crucial. They deliver accurate weather forecasts and warnings, which are vital for the safety of vessels by predicting storms, tides, and sea conditions,” Adalikwu said.
He added that, given the volume of vessels passing through Nigerian waters, a partnership with NiMet was essential. “We’ve listened to NiMet’s presentation and are impressed. We will escalate the issues raised and encourage our member states to adopt the best practices Nigeria has to offer,” he concluded.
