Lagos, June 8, 2026 — A physicist specialising in environmental studies, Prof. Sakiru Okedeyi, has called for increased investment in atmospheric and environmental physics, saying it is critical to improving Nigeria’s capacity to forecast floods, manage climate risks and safeguard lives and property.
Okedeyi, who serves as Provost of the Postgraduate College at the Lagos State University of Education, stated this during an interview in Lagos.
He explained that physics plays a central role in modern weather prediction, disaster risk reduction and the development of early warning systems used to anticipate extreme weather events.
According to him, physicists apply advanced computational models to estimate rainfall intensity, simulate river discharge patterns and identify communities at high risk of flooding.
He added that these tools also help map potential flood zones and provide timely warnings that allow authorities to respond before disasters escalate.
Okedeyi highlighted the importance of technologies such as radar systems, satellite imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth observation tools in tracking extreme weather conditions.
He said these systems monitor storm development, rainfall distribution, soil moisture levels and areas susceptible to flooding across the country, adding that coastal cities like Lagos stand to benefit greatly from improved forecasting infrastructure.
The expert identified key research areas to include climate change impact assessment, flood and drought prediction, renewable energy studies and carbon emission monitoring.
He also stressed the need for greater focus on environmental sustainability and radiation studies as part of efforts to strengthen national climate resilience.
Okedeyi noted that funding for atmospheric and environmental physics research remains insufficient compared to the scale of environmental challenges facing the country.
He added that many universities and research institutions still lack advanced equipment for atmospheric observation and environmental monitoring.
According to him, Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of expertise but rather inadequate investment, infrastructure and consistent policy backing.
He called on government, development partners and the private sector to increase support for climate-related research in order to improve disaster preparedness and reduce the impact of extreme weather events across the country.