ECOWAS, NiMet Partner to Boost Disaster Preparedness in West Africa
ECOWAS, NiMet Partner to Boost Disaster Preparedness in West Africa
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed to collaborate to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the region.
The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by a delegation from ECOWAS, led by Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, . Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe,
to NiMet Headquarters in Abuja.
NiMet’s Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to regional cooperation in climate and weather services, highlighting its strategic role in strengthening early warning systems. ECOWAS commended NiMet’s leadership in advancing climate services across West Africa and recognized its pivotal role in regional support during disasters.
The two parties discussed areas of mutual interest, including joint training programs, technical exchanges, and access to climate knowledge products. They also explored the recognition of NiMet’s Training Centres as ECOWAS Centres of Excellence for capacity development in meteorology and climate science.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to formalise their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is expected to be signed soon. The partnership aims to support the development of a regional hub for multi-hazard early warning dissemination and address climate-related vulnerabilities across ECOWAS Member States.
The collaboration aligns with global initiatives like the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All (EW4All) and NiMet’s National Framework for Early Warning Services, emphasising the importance of science-driven, people-centred climate action in building regional resilience.
