By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Central Bank of Nigeria have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on data sharing aimed at strengthening economic research, improving policy formulation, and enhancing national food security through climate-informed decision-making.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, and the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Professor Anosike underscored the growing importance of integrating weather and climate intelligence into economic planning, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and energy.
He explained that extreme weather conditions continue to pose serious threats to agricultural productivity and food systems globally, stressing that accurate meteorological data has become indispensable for strategic national planning and economic resilience.
Professor Anosike noted that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises food security through large-scale agricultural investments, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the deployment of mechanised farming equipment across the country.
Citing recent global climate assessments, the NiMet boss referenced the 2026 World Bank report, which revealed that climate-induced extreme weather has worsened food insecurity, leaving more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and another 52 million affected across West and Central Africa.
He also referred to the Berkeley Earth Report 2026, which projects that 2026 could emerge as the fourth warmest year ever recorded globally, warning that the trend continues to influence agricultural yields, energy demand, and broader economic forecasts.
In his remarks, Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi described the MoU as a major milestone in deepening institutional collaboration between two strategic national agencies whose responsibilities converge around data, research, and policy support.
According to him, the current global economic environment demands timely, credible, and data-driven policy responses, making the partnership both timely and necessary.
Dr Abdullahi stated that the Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN relies heavily on reliable statistical and meteorological information from NiMet for inflation tracking, agricultural sector evaluation, and macroeconomic policy advisory functions.
He further emphasised that strengthening institutional partnerships remains critical to advancing evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of Nigeria’s national data systems.
The event concluded with the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Professor Charles Anosike on behalf of NiMet and Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi for the Central Bank of Nigeria, marking the beginning of a new phase of strategic collaboration between both institutions.
