The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has warned that West Africa and the entire African continent are at risk of severe climate-related disasters.
Keyamo raised the alarm, while declaring open a regional workshop of ECOWAS Directors of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, climate-induced disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, with vulnerable communities often bearing most of the impacts.
He said that the challenges had far-reaching implications for food security, water availability, public health, transportation, energy systems, livelihoods, national security and overall socio-economic stability.
“Now, more than ever in recorded history, West Africa is faced with various weather and climate-related threats.
“These include erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, heavy thunderstorms, destructive windstorms, intense flooding, increasing temperatures and rising sea levels.
“This further highlights the enormity of the challenge facing the entire continent and the ECOWAS region in particular.
“This meeting couldn’t have come at a better time and provides the opportunity for us to assess the readiness of the region to meet its early warning target,” he said.
Keyamo said the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) 2023 State of the Climate Report states that climate-related hazards cause African countries to lose two to five per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually.
According to him, the report says many West African countries divert up to nine per cent of their budgets to respond to climate extremes as rainfall deficits led to localised shortfalls in agricultural production in 2023.
“In the face of these realities, the work of our meteorological and hydrological services has become indispensable.
“The need for accurate, timely, and actionable weather and climate information has never been more critical to saving lives, securing livelihoods, and driving sustainable development across the region.
“In recognition of these important roles, Nigeria established the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in 2003 and was amended in 2022,” he said.
The minister explained that ”NiMet’s mandate is to provide weather, climate, and hydrometeorological information for the safety of lives and property, and socio-economic development across all sectors.”
He said that NiMet, whose contributions to the development and practice of meteorology in the ECOWAS region covered a wide range of areas, had evolved into a modern, science-driven agency.
Keyamo said that NiMet had become not only the authoritative source of meteorological information for Nigeria but also a trusted partner and leader in West Africa and beyond.
He noted that the agency’s pioneering work on Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) had become a template for other Meteorological Services in the region.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has remained firmly committed to strengthening NiMet’s operational capacity, expanding its reach, and promoting regional collaboration.
“Investments in modernisation, human capital development, and international partnerships continue to reflect our firm belief that weather, climate and hydrological information is vital to national and regional development.
“Recall that at the launch of the Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative, the United Nations had set an ambitious target of ensuring that everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027,” Keyamo said.
Keyamo said that Nigeria was fully committed to supporting not only NiMet but also the wider ECOWAS community in its shared quest to build a climate-smart, weather-ready West African region.
“This meeting reflects our shared commitment to regional cooperation as well as a clear indication of the growing recognition of the critical role that meteorological and hydrological services play in our pursuit of sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation among others.
“I want to implore all of us to see this meeting as a means of exploring new and innovative ways to deepen cooperation, share best practices, and harmonise efforts for the collective benefit of our people.
“The challenges we face are common, and so too must be our solutions,” the minister added.
Speaking earlier, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, noted that West Africa was one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change.
She, however, said the region was one of the least equipped with the data, infrastructure, and systems required for effective climate resilience.
“Recent data from the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN) showed that between 2021 and 2024, the region experienced a 47 per cent increase in flood-related incidents, affecting over 5 million people, with damages estimated at over 1.3 billion dollars.
“A recent ECOWAS study handled by WASCAL found that climate-related disruptions reduced agricultural productivity in the region by up to 10 per cent in 2024, contributing to food insecurity and inflationary pressures.
“This situation will be worst if nothing is done in terms of mitigation and global temperatures reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 as forecast,” Toure-Litse, represented by Mr Bernard Koffi, said.
The commissioner emphasised the importance of generating climate forecast information from meteorological and hydrological directorates and their transfer to relevant national development agencies and dissemination towards rural and urban populations are critical.
This, she said, underscored the urgent need for enhanced hydrological and meteorological capacity that were now referred to collectively as hydromet services.
Toure-Litse encouraged the meteorological and hydrological directors to fulfill their role according to the regular and urgent needs from populations.
“Our populations, particularly those who live in rural areas need accurate and timely meteorological data and information to adapt.
“The accessibility to data and information is a critical issue that was emphasised by African ministers while they were adopting the African Meteorological Strategy.
“According to the World Bank, every dollar invested in early warning systems can yield up to 9 dollars in benefits, including avoided losses and enhanced productivity,” she added.
Also speaking, the NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike said the event was an opportunity for participants to agree on practical measures to improve the performance of meteorological and hydrological services within the region.
He emphasised the importance of leveraging technology for enhanced service delivery.
“Through artificial intelligence, enhanced satellite technology, big data integration and collaborative partnerships, meteorology is witnessing a renaissance that promises to improve predictive accuracy and user engagement.
“The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events ranging from floods and droughts to heat waves and storms pose significant challenges to our economies, aviation safety, food security, water resources, national security and overall well-being of our people,” he said.
NAN
