By Blessing Elo Oghene
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has disclosed that Africa accounts for about 30 per cent of the global weather and climate observation deficit, calling for increased investment in meteorological infrastructure to address the continent’s data gaps.
NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, made the call at the opening of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development in Lagos.
In a post on its official X handle, the agency highlighted the need for greater investment in weather and climate observation infrastructure, stronger public-private partnerships and improved data systems to address persistent observation challenges across Africa.
According to NiMet, the continent has only about 12.5 per cent of the minimum weather station density recommended by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The agency added that compliance rates stood at seven per cent for surface land stations and nine per cent for upper-air stations across 53 African countries.
Anosike said the significant gaps in weather observations underscored the need for governments, development partners and private-sector operators to increase investment in weather monitoring infrastructure, remote sensing, data analytics and digital platforms.
He noted that government funding alone was insufficient to meet the growing demand for reliable weather and climate information, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships in expanding observation networks and improving service delivery.
The NiMet chief also highlighted the agency’s contributions to aviation safety, agriculture, maritime operations and disaster risk management, emphasising the need to translate weather information into practical guidance and strengthen early-warning systems.
Also speaking, the President of the WMO, Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, urged Nigeria and other African countries to invest more in meteorological and hydrological services to protect lives, safeguard livelihoods and support sustainable economic development.
Al Mandous described the period leading to 2030 as critical to addressing capacity gaps in weather and climate services.
He called on governments and development partners to prioritise funding, strengthen institutional frameworks and deepen collaboration with key economic sectors.
The WMO president also commended Nigeria for its growing contribution to regional cooperation, noting that the country had progressed from receiving technical support to sharing expertise with other countries.
He cited Nigeria’s support for Burkina Faso as a peer reviewer under the Country Hydromet Assessment initiative as an example of its contribution to strengthening regional capacity.
Al Mandous stressed that stakeholders must move beyond assessments and commit to practical investments capable of building sustainable meteorological and hydrological services.
“Our direction is clear: to turn assessments into investments, investments into lasting capacity, and early warnings into early action that saves lives and livelihoods,” he said.
