The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to regional climate cooperation and pledged continued financial and logistical support for the operationalization of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS).
The Minister made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a high-level delegation from the AGRHYMET Regional Centre, led by its Director General, Dr. Issoufou Baoua.
The delegation’s visit is part of a joint mission to advance the full operationalization of the RCC-WAS, a strategic initiative designed to enhance climate services, early warning systems, and evidence-based policymaking across the region.
“Nigeria is a global player when it comes to regional commitments. We are big players and we do not shy away from our responsibilities. We are still hosting and funding the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) office in Abuja, and we will continue to support this mission—financially and otherwise”, stated Keyamo
Dr. Baoua expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s sustained leadership and briefed the Minister on a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to fast-track the regional centre’s launch.
He noted that Nigeria, as the first point of call for the mission and the only English-speaking member among the 17 participating states, holds a pivotal role in the initiative.
“The mission depends on donor support and goodwill, and we will continue to rely on Nigeria’s unwavering leadership,” Dr. Baoua said.
The Minister commended AGRHYMET and the WMO for their efforts, highlighting that a fully operational RCC-WAS would significantly boost climate resilience, support aviation safety planning, and advance vital climate research for Nigeria and the wider West African community.
The delegation included senior officials from AGRHYMET and the WMO, alongside the former Director General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, and the current DG/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike.
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