The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Sahel Consulting have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish sustainable climate monitoring and tackle bottlenecks in the early warnings system.
NiMet’s director-general, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasised the critical role of early warnings in safeguarding citizens. He declared, “The importance of an early warning system cannot be overemphasised and we are willing to partner with any organisation capable of investing in preparedness. This will help protect our population, who should and must be alerted early to climate disasters.”
The Climate Early Warnings project, a collaboration between Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and NiMet, is set to roll out six meteorological automatic weather observation systems (AWOS) across Nigeria. Additionally, a mapping room will be established, accompanied by capacity development initiatives for NiMet staff and other government agencies.
The implementation team includes members from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) of Columbia University, New York, USA, among others.
Yemi Adegoroye, representing Sahel Consulting and the consortium and Anosike, on behalf of NiMet, officially signed the MOU. This strategic partnership signifies a collective commitment to enhancing climate resilience and providing early warnings for the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
