By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
Nigeria and Singapore have taken a major step toward strengthening global meteorological cooperation as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, met with KOH LI-NA, Director-General of the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), on the sidelines of Ecosperity Week 2026.
The high-level meeting focused on expanding collaboration in meteorological research, with particular emphasis on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into weather forecasting and aviation-related services.
Discussions highlighted the similarities between Nigeria and Singapore in tropical weather patterns and the critical role meteorological services play in supporting the aviation industry in both countries. The two agencies explored ways to accelerate the evaluation and deployment of AI-driven forecasting models to improve the speed, accuracy, and downscaling of weather predictions.
Officials said the initiative is expected to deliver stronger socioeconomic benefits across key sectors, including aviation, agriculture, marine services, healthcare, and disaster risk reduction through more reliable and timely weather information.
Both NiMet and MSS are ISO-certified for aviation meteorological services. Building on Singapore’s successful collaboration between MSS and its civil aviation authorities, the meeting also examined opportunities to replicate similar provider-user partnerships in Nigeria to strengthen aviation safety and operational efficiency.
The discussions further covered innovative cost-recovery models, enabling legal frameworks, the use of AI to improve workforce productivity, and the importance of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in enhancing operational standards and workplace efficiency.
As member states of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), both countries reaffirmed their commitment to global cooperation in meteorology. Nigeria hosts the WMO Office for North, Central, and West Africa, while Singapore hosts the WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific.
Speaking during the engagement, both Permanent Representatives stressed that international collaboration, shared expertise, and cross-border partnerships remain critical to improving forecasting accuracy, strengthening capacity building, and delivering life-saving early warning systems worldwide.
