NiMet DG Tours Northwest Zonal Office, Vows to Improve Equipment, Staff Welfare

In a bid to enhance the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and strengthen aviation safety, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Prof. Charles Anosike, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, commenced a tour of the Northwest Zonal Headquarters located at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The visit forms part of Prof. Anosike’s ongoing nationwide tour aimed at assessing the state of NiMet’s equipment and facilities firsthand and engaging with agency staff to address operational challenges.

Upon his arrival at the zonal headquarters, Prof. Anosike was received by the Meteorological Manager, Adewara Hassan; the State Meteorological Inspector (SMI), Mr. Banky Jonathan; and other key staff members.

Prof. Anosike proceeded to inspect critical infrastructure essential for ensuring aviation safety. His tour included a visit to the METEO station located at the airport’s tarmac area, the pilot briefing rooms at both the domestic and international terminals, and other key facilities.

He examined the state of the equipment and engaged with staff to understand the challenges affecting service delivery.

During an interactive session with staff, Prof. Anosike commended their dedication and resilience despite facing operational setbacks.

He acknowledged the support of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in improving NiMet’s capacity.

“I am impressed with what we have seen during our tour. The Northwest Zonal Office of NiMet is well organised, even though many of our instruments, as observed, are not working due to lack of transparency in documentation, vandalism, and, in some cases, sabotage,” Prof. Anosike remarked. “I thank our scientists, observers, forecasters, engineers, and all the staff working in the region for their dedication and commitment despite these challenges.”

Prof. Anosike charged the staff with the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the agency’s equipment and facilities.

He underscored the critical role of meteorology in ensuring aviation safety, noting that Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport holds a strategic position as a Flight Information Region (FIR).

“Meteorology is the foundation of aviation safety protocols. Aviation can never be safe if meteorology services are not being delivered optimally. The government is making significant investments to replace obsolete and damaged equipment, and we must ensure that these investments are protected.

“Contractors must be held accountable to meet specified standards and provide the necessary training for staff on the use of newly installed equipment. The era of installing equipment without training and the contractor disappearing is over. We need our staff in the regions to enforce this,” he asserted.

Prof. Anosike further assured the staff that management is actively working to improve staff welfare, noting that certain approvals in that regard have already been secured from the federal government.

Accompanying Prof. Anosike on the tour were Engr. Abdulkareem Hamid Olayinka, Director of Engineering and Technical Services; Prof. Vincent Weli, Director of Weather Forecasting Services; Cyprian Okpalaku, Special Adviser to the DG/CEO on Information and Communications Technology (ICT); and Dr. Haruna Zakari, Technical Assistant to the DG/CEO of NiMet.