Precious Obogo
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) have held a strategic partnership engagement on the sidelines of the 2026 Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting, with both institutions committing to stronger cooperation in early warning, satellite applications, and institutional development.
In his opening remarks, CMA Deputy Administrator Mr Song Shanyun expressed appreciation to NiMet’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Charles Anosike, and congratulated the Nigerian Government on hosting the annual meeting. He said Nigeria, through NiMet, had demonstrated strong leadership and affirmed CMA’s readiness to support the strengthening of meteorology in Nigeria and beyond.
Mr Shanyun described cooperation between the two countries as important and outlined three priority areas for engagement:
1. Joint development of the MAZU operational platform for Nigeria;
2. Expanded use of Fengyun satellite technology to strengthen meteorological observation; and
3. Deeper capacity-building and institutional development.
Responding, Prof. Anosike thanked CMA and the Chinese Government for sending a six-member delegation to the meeting, describing the participation as a demonstration of strong commitment to meteorological development worldwide. He called for NiMet and CMA to formalise their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding guided by Nigeria’s social and economic needs and its practical meteorological requirements.
At the close of the engagement, CMA presented NiMet with two tablet devices equipped with the MAZU artificial intelligence agent for urban multi-hazard early warning. The devices will serve as dedicated intelligent terminals for the delivery of meteorological early-warning information.
Both parties also agreed to establish a regular communication mechanism to coordinate joint development activities and sustain progress on the proposed areas of cooperation.