In continuation of his nationwide tour of facilities of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), to ascertain firsthand the state of equipment and facilities and interact with agency staff, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Prof. Charles Anosike, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, began a tour of the Northwest zonal headquarters.
On arrival at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Zonal Headquarters of the agency, Prof. Anosike and his team were met by the Meteorological Manager, Adewara Hassan, Mr Banky Jonathan, the State Meteorological Inspector (SMI), and other members of staff.
Prof. Anosike afterward undertook a tour of NiMet’s critical assets needed to keep maintaining aviation safety, including the METEO station located at the airport’s tarmac area, the pilot briefing rooms at both the domestic and international wings of the airport and other facilities.
During an interactive session with the staff, Prof. Anosike gave them assurances of the continued support of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. SAN, and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I am impressed with what we have seen during our tour. The Northwest zonal office of NiMet is well organized, even though many of our instruments as observed are not working due to lack of transparency in documentation, vandalization and in some cases sabotage. I thank our scientists, observers, forecasters, engineers, and all the staff working in the region for their dedication and commitment despite noted challenges”.
Continuing, Professor Anosike charged the staff to ensure that equipment and other facilities under their care are optimally protected and maintained. “Meteorology is the foundation of aviation safety protocols. Aviation can never be safe if meteorology services are not being done optimally. Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, has a special status as a
flight information region. We have to ensure that the investments government is making in replacing obsolete and damaged equipment are protected. We have to hold our contractors more accountable and ensure that the equipment they are supplying and installing meets the standards and specifications and that the contractors carry out the contracted training of our staff on the use of such equipment. The era of installing equipment without training and then the contractor disappearing is over. We need our staff in the regions to enforce this”.
Concluding, Prof. Anosike assured the staff that management is working hard to improve staff welfare and that certain approvals in that regard have already been secured from the federal government.
Prof. Anosike’s entourage included Engr. Abdulkareem Hamid Olayinka, Director of Engineering and Technical Services, Prof. Vincent Weli, Director of Weather Forecasting Services and Cyprian Okpalaku, the Special Adviser to the DG/CEO of NiMet on Information Communications Technology (ICT), and Dr. Haruna Zakari, Technical Assistant to the DG/CEO of NiMet.
