NiMet Builds Data Hub to Help Farmers Manage Climate Risks

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is developing a national digital data hub to give farmers and other agricultural stakeholders easier access to reliable, location-specific weather and climate information.

The platform is expected to help farmers, livestock keepers and agricultural advisers assess climate risks, plan their activities and make better decisions based on timely weather and climate information.

NiMet is developing the platform in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Crea2Solutions.

The project has advanced from the design and mock-up stage to an advanced Minimum Viable Product (MVP), with NiMet’s weather and climate services now undergoing testing.

Work on the platform began in February 2026 under the Climate Services for Youth (CS4Y) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) programmes. By July, the project had progressed from its early design phase to a testable product.

The data hub is being developed to address gaps in access to agricultural climate information, including fragmented data sources, limited coordination among information providers and difficulties in turning technical forecasts into practical advice for farmers.

The platform is expected to bring together historical, monitored and forecast climate information to support risk assessment, seasonal planning and climate-informed decisions across the agricultural sector.

As part of the development process, NiMet and ILRI have been engaging stakeholders to map Nigeria’s agro-meteorological data and advisory landscape.

The consultations are also examining gaps in information delivery, strengthening links among institutions and improving the way climate information reaches farmers and other end users.

The process includes attention to gender and social inclusion, with the aim of ensuring that climate information and advisory services are accessible to a wider range of users.

Expected users of the platform include farmers, pastoralists, agricultural extension professionals, researchers, government institutions and private advisory service providers.

NiMet’s existing resources, including online map rooms and agricultural climate products, are expected to feed into the system and support the delivery of more context-specific agro-weather advisories.

ILRI is contributing to the organisation of research data and the development of digital tools that can turn technical information into more usable services for agricultural stakeholders.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen preparedness for weather and climate-related risks, reduce potential losses and support the livelihoods of people who depend on agriculture and livestock.

The development of the data hub forms part of broader efforts to promote food security, climate-smart agriculture and digital services in Nigeria.

NiMet said the platform would ultimately help bridge the gap between available climate information and the practical decisions farmers need to make on the ground.