The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has commenced testing of a new digital data platform designed to provide farmers and agricultural stakeholders with location-specific weather and climate information.
The initiative, known as the NiMet Data Hub, is being developed in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Crea2Solutions.
According to a statement issued by NiMet on Monday, September 21, 2026, the platform has progressed from the initial design and mock-up stage to an advanced Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
The agency said the digital hub would provide farmers, livestock keepers, agricultural advisers and other users with access to historical, monitored and forecast climate information.
NiMet Data Hub to support farm planning
Work on the platform began in February 2026 under the Climate Services for Youth and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa programmes.
NiMet said the project had progressed to a testable product by July 2026, with the platform designed to support risk assessment, seasonal planning and climate-informed agricultural decisions.
The agency explained that the project was developed in response to challenges affecting the delivery of agricultural climate services in Nigeria.
These challenges include fragmented climate data, limited coordination among information providers and difficulties in translating technical weather forecasts into practical and timely advice for farmers.
Stakeholder engagements jointly organised by NiMet and ILRI focused on mapping Nigeria’s agro-meteorological data and advisory systems, while identifying gaps in the availability and delivery of climate information.
The engagement also sought to strengthen institutional collaboration, improve last-mile communication and promote gender and social inclusion.
Platform to serve farmers, pastoralists, researchers
NiMet said the Data Hub is expected to serve a wide range of users, including farmers, pastoralists, agricultural extension officers, researchers, government agencies and private advisory service providers.
The agency’s existing resources, including online map rooms and agricultural climate products, are expected to feed into the platform and support the development of location-specific agro-weather advisories.
ILRI’s contribution to the project includes organising research data, developing digital tools and improving the accessibility and usefulness of climate information for partners and decision-makers.
According to NiMet, the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader priorities on food security, climate-smart agriculture and digital services under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The agency said making reliable climate information more accessible to farmers and agricultural advisers would help improve preparedness, reduce climate-related losses and strengthen livelihoods across the agri-food sector.
The platform is also expected to improve coordination between institutions responsible for collecting, processing and delivering agricultural climate information.
NiMet and its partners are expected to continue testing and refining the Data Hub ahead of wider deployment.
The initiative comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and strengthen farmers’ ability to manage changing weather patterns and climate-related risks.
