The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development in Lagos.
He said the initiatives were aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to predict and respond to weather-related hazards, protect lives and economic assets, and promote sustainable development.
Keyamo explained that the government had introduced mechanisms to mobilise domestic and international funding for climate-related projects, including the Nigerian Climate Investment Platform, which is expected to help attract $500 million for climate infrastructure, adaptation and related policy priorities.
He also highlighted the accreditation of the Nigerian Social Investment Authority as a direct access entity to the Green Climate Fund, describing it as an important step towards improving the country’s ability to access and deploy international climate finance.
According to the minister, the Development Bank of Nigeria is also strengthening its institutional capacity to assess climate finance opportunities, while the government is exploring additional funding sources, including green bonds and carbon market mechanisms.
He said the government had approved a national carbon market framework and was pursuing the operationalisation of a climate change fund.
Keyamo further disclosed that the National Economic Council approved N83.2 billion in June 2026 for participatory action task force interventions to mitigate the anticipated effects of flooding and other climate-related emergencies nationwide.
“These developments are significant, as climate finance must ultimately translate into projects that address real developmental issues,” he said.
The minister stressed that hydrometeorological services should be treated as critical national infrastructure because of their role in disaster prevention, economic planning and public safety.
“We must therefore recognise hydrometeorological services as critical national infrastructure. Sustained investment in weather, water and climate services is necessary to protect lives, safeguard investments and support informed decision-making,” he said.
He noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) Seasonal Climate Prediction had continued to support national preparedness by providing information that enables authorities and other stakeholders to take preventive action before weather hazards escalate into disasters.
According to him, reliable weather and climate information is essential for improving early warning systems and helping communities and businesses prepare for extreme weather events.
He added that sustained investment in forecasting capabilities would strengthen the country’s resilience to climate-related risks.
Keyamo also called for increased private-sector participation in financing and delivering weather, water and climate information services, arguing that the government could not shoulder the entire responsibility.
“The Federal Government cannot, and should not, bear the entire responsibility for financing and delivering every component of the weather, water and climate information ecosystem,” he said.
He identified aviation, satellite services, insurance, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, financial services and data analytics as sectors where private investment and partnerships could help expand service delivery.
The minister said greater private-sector involvement would bring additional capital, technological expertise and innovative approaches to strengthening Nigeria’s climate information systems.
He added that collaboration between government and businesses would be important in ensuring that climate-related investments translate into practical benefits for communities, industries and the wider economy.
