By Dele Ogbodo
The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike on Monday, said investing in early warning systems not only saves countless lives and livelihood, but that it also generates ten times Return on Investment (RoI) and strengthen economies.
The DG/CEO, spoke at the 2025 World Meteorological Day, which commemorates the coming into force on 23rd March 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) at the Corporate Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja.
The annual event provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the role of meteorology in building a climate-resilient society and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
The year’s celebration is themed: “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,” reflecting a global commitment to strengthening early warning capabilities.
He said: “Of course, we’re excited by the progress made in expanding early warning systems coverage worldwide as we continued to experience increasing climate variability and extreme weather events.
“To support this global endeavour, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has been engaged in strengthening forecasting and dissemination capabilities to ensure communities and individuals prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
“Modernized hydro-meteorological infrastructure is key to enhancing early warning and a solid step towards reducing the early warning gaps.
“At NiMet, we continue to work towards upgrading our weather systems, providing quality observation and robust weather forecasts to trigger pre-emptive measures and equip stakeholders with the necessary tools to interpret early warnings and respond with early actions.”
According to him, the discussion on Early Warnings would be incomplete without recognising and paying tribute to one of our own and an esteemed pioneer in many aspects of meteorology and climate science, Prof. Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi, former Secretary General, WMO.
He added: “Obasi was one of the earliest scientists to recognize the role of early warnings in disaster risk management. In his paper titled “WMO’s Role in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.”
“Obasi, highlighted the critical importance of research, observation, forecasting and collaborations in enhancing warning systems, risk assessment, technological exchange, public information, and training. This resonates with the theme of 2025 World Meteorological Day- “Closing the Early Warning Gaps Together”.
“The former Secretary General, was dedicated to highlighting the relevance of NMHSs in environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.”
Anosike affirmed that today NiMet has remained at the forefront of advancing early warning systems through science-based weather and climate services. Our Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), daily weather forecast and bulletins, Impact-Based forecast and other publications have proven instrumental in disaster risk reduction across all socio-economic sectors.
According to him, unprecedent weather extremes in past few years is surfacing early warning gaps such as inadequate finance and access to latest technologies, uncoordinated dissemination efforts, insecurity and maintainability of early warning systems must be proactively addressed. We must recognize that closing the early warning gap requires all – including strong collaboration, coordination and cooperation between national and international partners, policymakers, the private sector, and local communities especially the youth. Government alone cannot do it.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders in the weather and climate service value chain to work together – across sectors and borders – to ensure that no one is left behind in accessing life-saving weather and climate information.
“To our young students here today, you are the future of meteorology and climate science. I therefore encourage you to take an active interest in understanding the dynamics of weather and climate, as your contributions will be vital in addressing the challenges ahead.
“It is our collective duty to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening early warning systems and building partnerships that enhance weather and climate-resilient economic development and close the early warning gaps together.” He said.
The DG National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in his remark, said, this year’s theme, “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,” highlights a critical challenge in disaster risk reduction—ensuring that timely and accurate early warning systems reach all communities, especially those most vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
“At NEMA, we recognize that effective disaster preparedness begins with reliable meteorological data and early warning systems. Our strong partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has been instrumental in this regard. The Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) provided by NiMet serves as a crucial tool in shaping NEMA’s disaster preparedness and response strategies. By integrating climate forecasts into our planning, we enhance national resilience to floods, droughts, storms, and other extreme weather events.”
However, while progress has been made, gaps still exist, particularly in ensuring that early warnings are accessible, understandable, and actionable at the community level, he said.
The DG, said: “To close these gaps, we must continue working together—government agencies, meteorologists, emergency responders, development partners, and local communities—to strengthen early warning dissemination, invest in technology, and build local capacities for risk reduction.
“As we mark this occasion, NEMA reaffirms its commitment to advancing multi-stakeholder collaboration and innovative approaches to disaster risk management. Together, we can bridge the early warning gap and create a safer, more resilient future for all, the DG, said.
In his contribution, the Secretary General of WMO, Prof. Celeste Saulo, who was represented by the Country of WMO for West, North and Central Africa, Mr. Bernand Gomez, said World Meteorological Organization as the United Nation’s authoritative voice on weather, climate, and water, said it is gratifying to commemorate the World Meteorological Day and the 75th Anniversary of the WMO.
According to her, WMO wishes to celebrate the contribution of WMO and its members to saving lives, serving society, and protecting our planet.
She said: “During the past 75 years, the WMO community provided scientific evidence, information and services which has shaped decision making to safeguard and promote public well-being, and to make the world safer, more secure, and prosperous.
“Without WMO coordination and its unified network, each country would face the impossible task of collecting global data on its own.
“Every minute of every day, data flows from monitoring stations across the world to weather prediction centres.
“Free and unrestricted exchange of weather-related data, products, and services are critical to national security and to climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, aviation, marine, energy, health, water, and disaster management.
“These efforts have added value to the global economy in billions of dollars, and billions more have been saved by avoiding economic losses from weather, climate, and water-related hazards. And we have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.”
The Secretary General acknowledged that today, humanity is faced with the challenges of Climate Change.
She said: “The world witnessed the hottest 10 years on record in 2024. The year 2024 was also confirmed as the hottest year on record and is likely to be the first calendar year to temporarily hit 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial era.
“Every fraction of a degree matters to our lives, our livelihoods, and biodiversity as this increases our vulnerability and exposure to more frequent and intense heat waves, more devastating storms, floods and drought, and more rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones.
“In Nigeria, the frequency and intensity of heat waves, windstorms, floods, and dry spells has witnessed an increase in the last 10 years with huge implications for human lives and socio-economic development.”
According to her, WMO’s top overriding priority is to ensure that early warning systems protect everyone, everywhere on the planet, explaining that to achieve this, international collaboration is more important than ever before, hence the theme of this year’s World Meteorological Day which is “Closing the Early Warnings Gap Together.
She said: “National ownership remains at the heart of the Early Warnings for All initiative, with governments leading efforts to strengthen resilience and establish sustainable early warning systems.
“National Meteorological and Hydrological Services must remain the source of authoritative warnings, while the private sector can help drive innovation, strengthen dissemination, and enhance risk knowledge.
“We are glad to note that collaboration with bilateral and multilateral donors, climate funds, and development banks is increasing support for early warning efforts. This is because the Early Warnings for All initiative is a human and moral imperative and it makes economic sense. On a global scale, every US$ 1 invested in early warnings is estimated to result in about US$ 9 in net economic benefits. This analysis in higher at the national level.
“To ensure everyone in Nigeria is covered by multi-hazard early warning systems, we must: Innovate inclusively to scale up relevant technologies for production and dissemination of Early Warnings;
“Cooperate with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to foster coordination among the various sectors; and invest together as stakeholders to create, mobilize, and deploy resources for an effective Multi-Hazard Early Warning System.
“The time to act is now. By acting now, we can achieve the promise of Early Warnings for All in Nigeria.”
WMO reaffirms its commitment to a technologically advanced and efficient Early Warning System, and a safer, more resilient Nigeria, she said.
