By Agrobroadcast Team
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has dismissed claims that farmers across the country lost nearly ₦5 trillion due to inaccurate weather forecasts, describing the reports as misleading, unfounded and deliberately alarmist.
The agency was reacting to recent publications by a media organisation and an online platform which alleged that Nigerian farmers suffered massive losses over a 24-month period as a result of poor meteorological information.
NiMet said the reports, which were attributed to a group identified as the Foundation for Peace Professionals, lacked credible data and were aimed at eroding public trust in the nation’s weather services.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its Acting Head of Public Relations, Rabiatu Ado, NiMet described the allegations as a campaign of calumny built on falsehoods and unsupported assertions.
Ado noted that NiMet has, for more than 140 years, provided reliable weather and climate forecasts that guide decision-making and policy formulation across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, including agriculture, aviation, disaster management and water resources.
She stressed that claims suggesting farmers lost nearly ₦5 trillion in productive capital due to NiMet’s forecasts were not backed by verifiable evidence, transparent methodology or any independent assessment.
According to the statement, NiMet’s performance in recent years has been independently assessed by development partners, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), farmers and other stakeholders across Nigeria’s geo-political zones.
These assessments, it said, consistently rated the agency’s forecasts above the global benchmark of 60 per cent, with accuracy levels exceeding 90 per cent in 2024 and 2025.
The agency added that its Seasonal Climate Predictions, early warning systems and localised agro-advisories have continued to support farmers in making informed decisions on planting dates, crop selection, irrigation practices and risk management.
These services are disseminated through state governments, agricultural extension officers, traditional media, digital platforms and other communication channels.
NiMet also referenced findings from the executive summary of the 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance in Nigeria, a collaborative assessment involving key institutions across the agricultural value chain.
The assessment included inputs from research institutes, federal and state agricultural agencies, universities, commodity associations and development programmes.
The report indicated that the agricultural sector recorded improved crop yields and increased livestock production during the period under review, reinforcing agriculture’s role as a stabilising force in Nigeria’s economy and a major contributor to food security.
It further revealed that the output of key staples such as rice, maize, cowpea, yam, cassava and groundnut surpassed 2024 levels, while food prices declined across all zones of the country, reflecting improved supply conditions and the impact of ongoing government and stakeholder interventions.
Reaffirming its mandate, NiMet said it remains committed to supporting national food security, enhancing climate resilience and promoting sustainable agricultural development.
The agency added that it would not be distracted by sensational narratives and urged the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to engage responsibly and factually on issues of national importance.