The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has unveiled plans to advance a national digital platform aimed at providing farmers, livestock keepers, and agricultural advisers with reliable access to location-specific weather and climate information. This initiative is a collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Crea2Solutions. The project began in February 2026 under the Climate Services for Youth (CS4Y) and AGRA programmes.
The Data Hub has progressed from design and mock-up review to an advanced Minimum Viable Product, with NiMet weather and climate services currently under testing. By July 2026, the project had moved from early design to a testable product. The platform aims to improve access to historical, monitored, and forecast climate information, supporting risk analysis, seasonal planning, and climate-informed decision-making.
The initiative addresses persistent weaknesses in agricultural climate services, including fragmented data, limited coordination among information providers, and the difficulty of turning technical forecasts into timely, practical advice. Stakeholder engagement co-hosted by NiMet and ILRI has focused on mapping Nigeria's agro-meteorological data and advisory landscape, identifying information and delivery gaps.
The platform is expected to serve farmers, pastoralists, extension professionals, researchers, government institutions, and private advisory providers. NiMet resources, such as online map rooms and agricultural climate products, will feed the system, enabling the development of context-specific agro-weather advisories. This will support preparedness, reduce climate-related losses, and strengthen agri-food livelihoods.
ILRI's contribution aligns with its wider work of organizing research data, developing digital tools, and making information more usable for partners and decision-makers. The project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda priorities, focusing on food security, climate-smart agriculture, and digital services.
The management of NiMet is seeking to place usable climate information in the hands of producers and advisers. The hub is intended to support preparedness, reduce climate-related losses, and strengthen agri-food livelihoods. The platform will provide critical climate information to support decision-making in the agricultural sector.
The successful implementation of the Data Hub is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria's agricultural sector. By providing reliable and location-specific climate information, the platform will enable farmers and agricultural advisers to make informed decisions, reducing the risks associated with climate variability. This, in turn, will contribute to improved food security and sustainable agricultural practices in the country.
Key points
- NiMet's Data Hub aims to improve access to climate information for farmers and agricultural advisers.
- The platform will provide location-specific weather and climate information to support decision-making in the agricultural sector.
- The project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda priorities, focusing on food security, climate-smart agriculture, and digital services.
