The Nigerian Meteorological Agency NiMet), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on sharing weather and climate data, a move aimed at sharpening economic forecasting amid rising climate risks to agriculture and food security.
The pact sealed at CBN headquarters Abuja, integrates NiMet’s meteorological insights into the CBN’s policy work, especially, in agriculture, energy, and transportation.
NiMet Director-General Professor Charles Anosike said extreme weather—fueled by climate change—threatens crop yields and national food supplies, aligning the deal with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
NiMet in a statement on its office Facebook handle said the initiative targets cultivating 10 million hectares and distributing mechanized equipment to boost output.
Professor Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report showing climate-driven hunger afflicting 87 million in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also pointed to Berkeley Earth’s forecast that 2026 will rank as the fourth-warmest year on record, reshaping farm and energy markets.
CBN Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, called the MoU a “landmark step” in bridging the institutions’ overlapping mandates on data and research.
In a volatile economy, he said, NiMet’s timely statistics are vital for tracking inflation, evaluating agriculture, and guiding policy.
“Strong partnerships like this fortify evidence-based decisions and national data systems,” Abdullahi added.
The agreement formalizes NiMet’s role as a key data provider, potentially aiding Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate weather shocks that have battered its farm-dependent economy.
