The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), has raised concerns over persistent funding challenge confronting the agency, saying that most of its statutory obligations are implemented by its  (Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Despite this challenge, NiMET reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening weather and climate information services, describing it as a critical tool for protecting public health and building community resilience across the country.

Speaking at the ongoing Weather and Climate Information Services for Health (Wiser-Health) Workshop for health sectors, including the Federal Ministry of Health and strategic partners in Lagos, the Director of Research and Training, NiMet,Prof. Peter Odjugo, expressed that NiMet did not receive budgetary allocation from the Federal Government in 2025, just like in recent years.

Odjugo explained that the agency largely depended on its IGR to carry out its statutory responsibilities despite the growing importance of climate services to national development.

He emphasised that climate-health relationship was critical to the environment and national wellbeing.

Odjugo stated that the aim of the workshop was to develop an integrated climate and health early warning system in response to Nigeria’s updated climate commitments.

He said: “Building an efficient early warning system is not just a scientific responsibility; it is a national imperative.

“Through collaboration with the health sector and strategic partners, we are working to ensure timely, accurate and impact-based forecasts translate into early action that saves lives and safeguards livelihoods across Nigeria. Together, we can transform climate intelligence into resilience for healthier communities nationwide.”

In her comment, the Head of Health at the British High Commission in Abuja, Juliet Whitley, said that Nigeria was leading the way in developing an early warning system that would better enable its health sector to prepare for and respond to extreme weather.

She stated that the United Kingdom was proud to support the country’s commitment to building a health system that is more resilient to climate change.

Director and Head of Climate Change and Environmental Health Division, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Zakariya Mohammed, in his comment, expressed that with the integration of health considerations into Nigeria’s recently submitted its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the workshop provides an good starting point for collaborative efforts towards establishing an operational early warning system for climate and health in Nigeria.

Also, Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and Climate Change Desk Officer at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Isa Abulkasir, explained that as Nigeria integrated health into its NDC 3.0 framework, the workshop offered a timely opportunity to advance its collaborative efforts towards a climate-resilient health system.

He added: “NEMA is committed to leveraging climate information and early warning systems to mitigate health risks, enhance community resilience, and reduce the impact of climate-sensitive diseases and disasters, building a safer, more resilient future for all Nigerians.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, emphasised that climate change was intensifying public health risks, including heat stress, airborne infections and vector-borne diseases.

Anosike expressed that while meteorological institutions already provide climate risk information, gaps remained in integrated surveillance, coordinated planning and evidence-based decision-making.

“This workshop is a significant step towards closing these gaps. Weather and climate information must be translated into actionable guidance for health agencies and communities,” he said.

Anosike pointed out the need for effective collaboration between meteorological, hydrological and health institutions to build a weather-resilient health sector.

According to him, the workshop would facilitate knowledge sharing, identify vulnerable populations and promote co-production of climate and health services, while strengthening the application of data science and artificial intelligence in line with Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 commitments.

He expressed confidence that sustained inter-agency collaboration would transform climate intelligence into practical solutions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s health system and protecting vulnerable communities nationwide