NiMet and PFSCU Partner on Achieving Nigeria’s Food Security Agenda

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET and the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit, PFSCU, are partnering to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.

The agreement was reached when the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike received the Secretary of the PFSCU Board and Technical Assistant on Agriculture to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Marion Moon, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Professor Anosike said that NiMet has the annual seasonal climate prediction which is published in different local languages and is downscaled to farmers in the states to aid them with planting forecast.

“Weather forecasting is the primary thing that we do as we observe and monitor the atmosphere. Climate science supports adaptation and mitigation strategies, so we’re involved in all adaptation and mitigation activities. The early warning aspect of it is a United Nations (UN) initiative so NiMet is embedded in it because of our national and international obligations. We have an obligation to meet and to ensure that everyone is covered by early warning and climate disaster”. He noted.

Professor Anosike said that NiMet also uses radio and other channels easily accessible to the farmers at the rural areas to disseminate information that enables farmers and others to make better decisions.

The NiMET boss also pledge his agencies determination to work with the PFSCU.

“We will work with PFSCU and provide the data and information the way it is required for the food security dashboard”. He said.

The Secretary of the PFSCU Board and Technical Assistant on Agriculture to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Marion Moon, said that PFSCU recognizes the critical role that NiMET plays in ensuring food security in the nation.

“Given the current food crises in the country and the importance of the agricultural sector to Nigeria, Mr President approved the creation of the PFSCU in June 2024. The unit is anchored in the office of the Vice President and supports His Excellency in providing strategic data analysis that will enable Mr President to make decisions aimed at achieving food security in Nigeria, and other priorities set out in the renewed hope agenda, and transforming them into action.” She said

She further stated that the role of “PFSCU is focusing on food systems. We want to expand the food security dashboard. It’s very important that Mr. President and the economic team have the right information at the right time. This is where NiMet comes in. A key part of that is metrological data. We need to plan, especially now with climate change. We should be able through data from NiMet and other partners and stakeholders advise Mr President and other decision-makers at the highest level on how to mitigate the risks. Right now, we’re being bombarded with issues of flooding and drought. We want that information to sit right there with Mr. President, when he’s sitting with his ministers, the governors, other decision-makers, and stakeholders”.