The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated this in Lagos yesterday at the 2026 annual meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, hosted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Keyamo said weather and climate information had become indispensable across virtually every sector of the economy, stressing that its importance extended beyond aviation to agriculture, infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction and other climate-sensitive activities.
According to the minister, reliable forecasts and timely warnings were critical to protecting human lives, securing investments and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to withstand climate-related hazards.
He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, recognised NiMet’s services as public goods and strategic national assets, adding that improving the agency’s technical, institutional and operational capacity remained a priority.
Emphasising the close relationship between meteorological services and aviation safety, Keyamo said: “Hydrometeorological development and operation are closely linked, as safe and efficient flight operations depend heavily on accurate weather, water and climate.
“NiMet’s contribution to aviation is a matter of life and death. So, accurate meteorological information is necessary for safe flight operations and helps airlines and airports manage weather-related disruptions.
“So, the government has improved the welfare package of NiMet staff as part of efforts to strengthen service delivery. Staff motivation is critical to the effective discharge of the agency’s responsibilities.”
The minister commended NiMet’s institutional strengthening, digital transformation and innovation initiatives, noting that the agency’s 2026–2030 strategic plan provided a framework for improving service delivery and supporting national development.
He also called for a shift from reactive disaster management to a more proactive system in which scientific forecasts and early warnings would guide preventive action before natural hazards escalated into disasters.
Keyamo identified the establishment of the anticipatory action task force on flooding in 2025 and the use of NiMet’s seasonal climate predictions in national preparedness and planning as important steps towards achieving this objective.
He, however, stressed that the effectiveness of weather observations, forecasting and early warning systems depended on adequate funding, sustained investment in infrastructure and stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners and the private sector.
On climate financing, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government was pursuing various domestic and international funding mechanisms, including the Nigerian Climate Investment Platform, which targets $500 million to support climate-resilient infrastructure, adaptation and related policy priorities.
He maintained that increased investment in meteorological services would not only strengthen aviation safety but also improve preparedness across economic sectors vulnerable to changing weather patterns and extreme climatic events.
Also speaking at the meeting, the representative of the Lagos State Governor and Special Adviser on Maritime and Blue Economy, Oluwadamola Emmanuel, called for increased investment in weather forecasting, early warning systems and resilient infrastructure to protect communities and economic activities from climate-related disasters.
Emmanuel said the consequences of inadequate preparedness could be particularly severe in Lagos, a coastal megacity and Nigeria’s commercial hub that faces recurring threats from flooding and intense rainfall.
He argued that weather, water and climate services should no longer be viewed merely as environmental concerns but as essential investments in economic development, public safety and long-term resilience.
“ Often, the difference between a manageable risk and a devastating disaster is access to timely information and our ability to act on it.
“The 2022 floods in Nigeria, for instance, displaced more than 2.4 million people, claimed over 700 lives and caused an estimated $8.4 billion in damage. This is evidence of the consequences of climate-related disasters,” he said.
Emmanuel’s remarks underscored the need for governments at all levels to prioritise climate information, strengthen disaster preparedness and invest in infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events.
The meeting highlighted the growing importance of coordinated action among government agencies, development partners and private-sector stakeholders in expanding access to reliable hydrometeorological information and translating scientific forecasts into practical interventions.
With flooding and other climate-related hazards posing persistent risks to lives, livelihoods and economic infrastructure, speakers at the meeting stressed that timely information, sustained financing and effective institutional collaboration were essential to building a safer and more climate-resilient Nigeria.