The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Food and Nutrition Security Information System (FNSIS) during a courtesy visit by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) to its headquarters in Abuja.
The director-general of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike emphasised the agency’s critical role in early warning systems, disaster risk reduction and food security. He noted its ongoing collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to downscale seasonal forecasts that help farmers make informed decisions and boost agricultural productivity.
He stressed the need for a coordinated and science-based approach to predict, prepare for, and respond to food and climate shocks. He also highlighted the National Framework for Early Warning and Early Action, developed by NiMet under the guidance of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), as a tool for enhancing institutional coordination in managing disaster risks, food insecurity and climate resilience
Anosike assured the visiting delegation that the framework would be shared with all relevant stakeholders to promote synergy, avoid duplication, and strengthen national preparedness and response systems to food and climate-related emergencies.
Leading the delegation, Williams Massaoud praised NiMet for its contributions to climate services and emphasised the value of integrating meteorological data into broader food and nutrition security systems. He explained that the PRISISAN (Project for Strengthening and Innovating Food and Nutrition Security Information Systems) under which the mission is taking place, seeks to help Sahel and West African countries develop resilient and effective systems for managing food crises.
Massaoud added that the delegation includes representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Cadre Harmonisé Taskforce and other development partners working to address food and nutrition insecurity in the region.
Anosike concluded by underscoring the importance of collective action and called on stakeholders to collaborate in building a unified, data-driven and integrated food security information system that supports evidence-based decision-making and long-term resilience.
