By Seun Ibiyemi
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 improving economic decision-making and policy formulation in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, at the CBN Head Office in Abuja by NiMet’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Charles Anosike, and the Deputy Governor of the CBN’s Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Anosike said the partnership would support the integration of weather and climate data into economic planning, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events continue to impact agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He further linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food security through large-scale agricultural investments, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of farmland and expanded mechanisation programmes.
Citing recent global findings, Anosike referenced a World Bank report indicating that extreme weather linked to climate change is worsening food insecurity across Africa, with tens of millions affected.
He also pointed to the Berkeley Earth Report, which projects 2026 as one of the warmest years on record, with implications for agriculture and energy markets.
On his part, Dr. Abdullahi said the partnership represents a major step in strengthening collaboration between institutions responsible for data generation and economic policy formulation.
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He stressed that timely and reliable statistics are essential for inflation monitoring, agricultural assessment, and broader macroeconomic planning.
He added that improved access to NiMet’s meteorological data would enhance the CBN’s ability to develop evidence-based policies in an increasingly complex economic environment.
The MoU was formally signed by both heads of the two institutions, marking a new phase of cooperation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s data ecosystem and improving policy outcomes.
