By Nkechi Eze
As the world commemorates the 2026 World Meteorological Day, Nigeria joined the global community in celebrating the crucial role of meteorological and hydrological services in safeguarding lives, supporting economic development, and building resilience against climate risks. The celebration, held on March 25 at the headquarters of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja, brought together government officials, aviation stakeholders, scientists, and development partners to reflect on this year’s theme: “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow.”
The day, commemorated globally on March 23 to mark the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), underscores the critical link between present-day meteorological observation and future safety, resilience, and economic planning. Across the globe, meteorological services are increasingly vital as climate variability drives more frequent extreme weather events, from intense heatwaves to floods and droughts.
In his keynote address, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Charles Anosike, highlighted Nigeria’s progress in modernizing its meteorological infrastructure. He explained that accurate, timely, and reliable observations from land, air, water, and space form the backbone of all weather forecasts, early warnings, and climate projections.
“Every forecast, every early warning, and every climate outlook begins with accurate observations. Observing today is essential to protecting tomorrow,” Anosike said, emphasizing that NiMet’s surface and upper-air observation networks, satellite data reception systems, and automatic weather stations have been critical in supporting aviation safety, agricultural planning, maritime operations, disaster preparedness, and national economic planning.
Anosike also shared that NiMet has extended its technical support to regional partners, including Liberia, Niger, Somalia, and Burkina Faso, under the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme, providing guidance on strengthening their meteorological observation capacity. He noted that rising climate variability and extreme weather events are increasing demands on meteorological services, a challenge no single institution or government can meet alone.
“In line with the theme, we call for greater public-private collaboration. Investment in weather stations, AI-based forecasting, satellite data systems, and observation technologies today will safeguard lives, infrastructure, and economic activities tomorrow,” he said.
Delivering a goodwill message, Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, highlighted the inseparable partnership between aviation and meteorology. He emphasized that real-time, high-precision weather data is critical for pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport operators in detecting hazards such as microbursts, wind shear, and turbulence.
“Observing today isn’t just a scientific exercise; it is the very foundation of every takeoff, every landing, and every mile flown in between,” Najomo said, calling for investment in weather-resilient aviation infrastructure and advanced forecasting technologies to ensure safe and regular flight operations.
The WMO’s representative for North Central and West Africa, Roland Abah, reminded stakeholders that extreme weather has emerged as the top long-term global risk, according to the World Economic Forum. He cited rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and sandstorms across Africa, warning that these challenges are no longer distant threats but present-day realities.
“The observing and prediction system coordinated by WMO is central to early warnings that save millions of lives and protect investments in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, health, energy, and disaster management,” Abah said. He urged greater involvement from the private sector in supporting NiMet’s observational and data systems, noting that climate services benefit society at large.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, also lauded NiMet’s decades-long contribution to national development. He acknowledged the critical role of meteorologists, hydrologists, engineers, and scientists in observing, analyzing, and sharing weather and hydrological data to safeguard citizens, particularly vulnerable populations.
Mohammed further encouraged stakeholders to expand the dissemination and use of forecasts to improve decision-making, support livelihoods, and protect economic activities across the country.
The 2026 World Meteorological Day celebration in Abuja highlighted the urgent need for deeper collaboration, increased investment, and technological innovation in meteorological services. Stakeholders agreed that sustained observation today is indispensable to building a safer, more resilient future for Nigeria and the region.
