NiMet, FGWR to Strengthen Climate Reporting for Public Safet

By: Julian Osamoto

 

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, in partnership with First Green White Resources, has stepped up efforts to boost the quality of weather and climate reporting across Nigeria saying improved public communication is critical to saving lives.

 

At a media dialogue in Abuja, themed “Weather and Climate Reporting for the Safety of Lives,” NiMet’s Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, said the value of weather forecasts lies not just in scientific accuracy, but in how well the media communicates them.

 

“Our forecasts guide aviation, agriculture, and disaster response. But if they’re not properly understood by the public, lives remain at risk,” he told participants.

 

Professor Anosike outlined reforms under NiMet’s current leadership, including expanded staff training, improved welfare, in alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

He stressed that the agency remains committed to transparency and collaboration with journalists and civil society organisations.

 

On his part, FGWR CEO, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, who facilitated the dialogue, said timely and accurate weather information must be seen as a public safety tool and not just a news item.

 

“This is not about data, it’s about lives,” he stressed. “The media must be empowered to interpret complex forecasts and explain their impact clearly to the public.”

 

In a technical session, Mr. Ahaziah Suleiman, former Executive Director of Voice of Nigeria, warned that missed forecasts carry economic and safety consequences, especially in sectors like agriculture, aviation, and construction.

 

“Impact-based forecasting is the future. Journalists must not only report conditions but help people act on them,” he said.

 

Madam Glory Onyegbule, Director of Applied Meteorological Services at NiMet, also urged journalists to focus on the human impact of climate change, particularly in vulnerable communities.

 

“Climate change is already affecting lives. Communication must inspire both awareness and action,” she said.

 

Dr. Wasiu Ibrahim of NiMet’s Weather Forecasting Directorate introduced journalists to key forecasting tools and announced the agency’s shift toward Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF).

 

He also unveiled a real-time alert system for media professionals via a dedicated mailing list.

The event which brought together journalists, editors, scientists, and media executives for a series of technical sessions aimed at building synergy between reporters and meteorological experts. ended with a call for greater collaboration and a shared commitment to accurate, accessible, and timely climate communication.