The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on data sharing aimed at strengthening economic research, policy formulation, and climate-informed decision-making in Nigeria.
The agreement was formalized on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja, with senior officials from both institutions describing the partnership as a strategic step toward deepening evidence-based governance and improving national data systems.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Charles Anosike, emphasized the growing importance of integrating weather and climate intelligence into national economic planning, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
According to him, extreme weather events continue to pose significant threats to agricultural productivity, food security, and broader economic stability, making climate data increasingly indispensable for policy and investment decisions.
Prof. Anosike noted that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes food security through large-scale agricultural investments, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanized farming equipment across the country.
He referenced recent global climate assessments, including the 2026 World Bank report, which indicated that climate-induced extreme weather conditions are worsening food insecurity worldwide. The report estimates that more than 87 million people in East and Southern Africa, as well as 52 million people in West and Central Africa, are currently facing hunger-related challenges linked to climate impacts.
Prof. Anosike also cited findings from the 2026 Berkeley Earth Report projecting that 2026 is likely to emerge as the fourth warmest year ever recorded globally — a trend experts say is already influencing agricultural yields, energy demand patterns, and market projections.
In his remarks, Deputy Governor of the Economic Policy Directorate at the CBN, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, described the MoU as a major milestone in strengthening institutional collaboration between two agencies whose responsibilities intersect in research, statistical analysis, and policy support.
He stressed that timely, credible, and reliable data remain essential in navigating Nigeria’s increasingly complex economic environment, particularly in areas relating to inflation monitoring, agricultural assessments, and macroeconomic forecasting.
According to Abdullahi, the CBN’s Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on credible statistical information generated by NiMet to support economic advisory functions and policy interventions. He added that the partnership would help strengthen evidence-based policymaking while enhancing the robustness and coordination of Nigeria’s national data infrastructure.
The event concluded with the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Prof. Charles Anosike on behalf of NiMet and Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi on behalf of the Central Bank of Nigeria, signaling the beginning of a new era of institutional cooperation focused on climate intelligence, economic resilience, and sustainable national development.
