BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have formalised a partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting climate change awareness and reducing vulnerability to human trafficking.
At the MoU signing on Wednesday, 14th May 2025, NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, emphasized the agency’s readiness to provide early warnings to vulnerable communities to enhance preparedness for climate-related disasters.
He stated, “It is unfortunate that the increased vulnerability to human trafficking due to the effects of climate change remains under-recognized.
This partnership with NAPTIP is a strategic effort to disseminate timely weather and climate information to at-risk communities, enabling them to prepare adequately for climate extremes.”
In response, NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta L. Adamu Bello, highlighted the importance of the collaboration in mitigating the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.
“It is critical that we raise awareness nationwide to reduce distress migration caused by climate disasters such as floods, which often lead to increased risks of trafficking,” she remarked.
Under the MoU, NiMet will provide climate and weather-related information and advisories, including early warnings on extreme weather events, seasonal climate outlooks, and vulnerability assessments.
The agency will also offer expertise in interpreting meteorological data to support NAPTIP’s planning and implementation of anti-trafficking initiatives.
Additionally, NiMet will supply climate risk assessments to help identify high-risk areas where displacement could increase trafficking risks and develop a climate vulnerability map to enhance NAPTIP’s risk assessment framework.
