Nigeria has reaffirmed its strong commitment to regional cooperation on climate resilience and meteorological development as the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, received a high-level delegation from the AGRHYMET Regional Centre in Abuja.
The delegation, led by the Director General of AGRHYMET, Dr Issoufou Baoua, visited the Ministry as part of a Joint Mission aimed at advancing the operationalisation of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS), a strategic initiative designed to strengthen climate services across the sub-region.
Dr Baoua was accompanied by senior officials, including Abdou Ali of AGRHYMET, Alhassane Agoli, Bernard Edward Gomez, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Representative for North, Central and West Africa, as well as a former Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu.
The delegation was joined by the current Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, underscoring Nigeria’s central role in the mission.
Discussions during the visit focused on deepening collaboration towards the full take-off of RCC-WAS, which is expected to enhance regional climate services, improve adaptive capacity, and support evidence-based decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors such as aviation, agriculture and disaster risk management across West Africa and the Sahel.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr Baoua expressed appreciation to the Minister for the warm reception and Nigeria’s sustained support for regional and global climate initiatives.
He briefed the Minister on the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AGRHYMET and NiMet, which provides the framework for the operationalisation of RCC-WAS.
He noted that Nigeria was the first country visited by the joint mission and remains the only English-speaking nation among the 17 member states involved, describing the country as pivotal to the success of the initiative, particularly given the strategic importance of the Sahel region.
According to Dr Baoua, the joint mission is focused on strengthening institutional partnerships, aligning regional priorities, identifying capacity-building gaps and setting clear milestones to ensure the effective commencement of the regional climate centre.
He emphasised that the MoU with NiMet would fast-track the operational launch of RCC-WAS, adding that the mission would depend largely on donor support and the goodwill of partner countries.
“The mission depends on donor support and goodwill, and we will continue to rely on Nigeria’s unwavering leadership,” Dr Baoua said.
In his response, Minister Keyamo welcomed the delegation and reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to regional cooperation and climate resilience. He stressed that Nigeria has consistently played a leadership role in regional and international engagements.
“Nigeria is a global player when it comes to regional commitments. We are big players and we do not shy away from our responsibilities. We are still hosting and funding the WMO office in Abuja, and we will continue to support this mission – financially and otherwise,” the Minister stated.
He further commended AGRHYMET and the WMO for their efforts in advancing climate services in the region, noting that the successful operationalisation of RCC-WAS would significantly improve early warning systems, strengthen aviation safety planning and boost climate research for the benefit of Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
The visit, observers note, represents another important milestone in Nigeria’s collaboration with regional and international partners, reinforcing its role in promoting climate resilience, sustainable development and improved meteorological and climate services across West Africa and the Sahel.
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