In a bid to tackle the effects of climate change, especially on the health of Nigerians, environmentalists and other experts in the sector recently gathered to discuss the urgent need to build climate-resilient health systems informed by inclusive early warning and risk management services.

These experts spoke on Tuesday in Lagos during the 2026 Weather and Climate Information Services for Health Workshop.

They explained that the impacts of climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation are already driving respiratory illnesses, water- and vector-borne diseases, food insecurity, and disaster-related health risks in Nigeria.

The workshop, which was hosted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Emergency Management Authority, the National Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Orientation Agency, embodies a truly cross-sectoral collaboration, marking an important first step toward this goal by bringing together key national agencies to share expertise and co-develop a multi-hazard early warning system for Nigeria.

Other representatives at the workshop included the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Lagos State Government, which also contributed to the efforts.

Speaking during the event, the Health Adviser at the British High Commission in Abuja, Juliet Whitley, said, “Nigeria is leading the way in developing an early warning system that will better enable its health sector to prepare for and respond to extreme weather.

 The UK is proud to support Nigeria’s commitment to building a health system that is more resilient to climate change.”

The Director and Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Health Division at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Zakariya Mohammed, stated, “With the integration of health considerations into Nigeria’s recently submitted NDC 3.0, this workshop provides an excellent starting point for collaborative efforts toward establishing an operational early warning system for climate and health in Nigeria.”

National Emergency Management Authority Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and Climate Change Desk Officer Isa Abulkasir said that as Nigeria incorporates health considerations into its NDC 3.0 framework, the workshop offers a timely platform to strengthen joint efforts aimed at building a climate-resilient health system.

“NEMA is committed to leveraging climate information and early warning systems to mitigate health risks, enhance community resilience, and reduce the impact of climate-sensitive diseases and disasters, building a safer, more resilient future for all Nigerians,” Abulkasir said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening weather and climate information services as a critical pillar for public health protection, adding that building an efficient early warning system is not just a scientific responsibility; it is a national imperative.

“Through collaboration with the health sector and strategic partners, we are working to ensure timely, accurate, and impact-based forecasts translate into early action that saves lives and safeguards livelihoods across Nigeria. Together, we can transform climate intelligence into resilience for healthier communities nationwide,” NiMet stated.

A community-level survey conducted across Nigeria’s regions informed the workshop activities and training, ensuring early warning services are people-led and tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable Nigerians.

International experts were also invited to the event to share policy and operational experience, including representatives from the UK government, the Met Office, the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank, the World Meteorological Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the UK Health Security Agency.

WISER Health (Weather and Climate Information Services for Health) is a global initiative co-funded by the UK and the Rockefeller Foundation, with the Met Office leading implementation.