Ken Okeke
Some critical Government Agencies are intensifying efforts to build climate-resilient health systems in Nigeria, stressing that inclusive early warning and risk management services are critical to protecting citizens from the growing health impacts of climate change.
Speaking at a National Early Warning Services for Health (WISER) workshop hosted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Lagos, yesterday, stakeholders underscored the urgent need to strengthen coordination between the climate and health sectors to address rising cases of respiratory illnesses, water- and vector-borne diseases, food insecurity and other disaster-related health risks linked to climate variability.
The workshop, organised in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), the National Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), marked what officials described as a crucial first step toward operationalising a multi-hazard early warning system for the country.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Lagos State Government also participated in the deliberations. Officials said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 commitment to integrate climate and health data into a unified early warning structure capable of delivering timely alerts and actionable information to vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the event, Head of Health at the British High Commission in Abuja, Juliet Whitley, said Nigeria was taking the lead in developing systems that would enable its health sector to better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. She noted that the United Kingdom was supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build a more climate-resilient health system.
Director and Head of Climate Change and Environmental Health Division at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Zakariya Mohammed, described the workshop as a strong foundation for establishing an operational early warning system for climate and health in the country.
Similarly, NEMA’s Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and Climate Change Desk Officer, Isa Abulkasir, said integrating health into the NDC 3.0 framework presents an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across agencies. He affirmed NEMA’s commitment to leveraging climate information and early warning systems to mitigate health risks and reduce the impact of climate-sensitive diseases and disasters.
NiMet reiterated that weather and climate information services remain central to public health protection. A spokesperson for the agency described the development of an efficient early warning system as a national imperative, noting that improved collaboration between meteorological, health and emergency management institutions would ensure that accurate forecasts translate into early action.
The workshop forms part of the global Weather and Climate Information Services for Health (WISER Health) initiative, co-funded by the UK Government and the Rockefeller Foundation, with the UK Met Office leading implementation. International partners at the meeting included representatives of the World Bank, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Health Organization.
Stakeholders said a community-level survey to be conducted across Nigeria’s regions would inform the design and rollout of the early warning system, ensuring it is inclusive and responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations.
Participants agreed that without climate-resilient health systems supported by integrated early warning services, Nigeria’s efforts to curb the health consequences of climate change could face significant setbacks. They pledged sustained inter-agency collaboration to ensure the country meets its 2030 target under NDC 3.0.