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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology has reaffirmed its determination to strengthen the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to better protect lives and infrastructure across critical sectors of the economy.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun, stated this on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill to amend the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Act No. 29 of 2022, held at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to Abisodun, the proposed amendments are geared towards enhancing NIMET’s capacity to deliver accurate and timely meteorological data essential for national safety, particularly in the aviation industry.
“This bill is a significant step towards improving NIMET’s operational effectiveness and enabling the agency to play a more robust role in safeguarding lives and property, not only in aviation but across all weather-sensitive sectors,” he said.
He noted that the amendment specifically seeks to revise Section 13, Subsection 2 of the existing Act, which he described as critical to enabling the agency to meet its growing mandate.
Abisodun further emphasized that boosting the agency’s ability to deliver reliable weather forecasts, alerts, and advisories would significantly support informed decision-making by pilots, air traffic controllers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Delivering his remarks at the hearing, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the deliberation reflects the legislature’s unwavering commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency.
Represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, the Speaker reiterated that improving service delivery through strategic legislation remains a key focus of the House. He noted that enhancing meteorological services would have far-reaching benefits for public safety and national development.
The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Abisodun Akinlade, explained that the amendment is intended to reposition NIMET for broader national relevance and to empower it to serve both the public and private sectors more effectively.
“NIMET is the only statutory body authorized to generate weather data that is crucial for disaster prevention and national planning. Strengthening its legal framework will allow it to function optimally and deliver on its mandate,” Akinlade stated.
In support of the bill, the Director General of NIMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, advocated for the inclusion of a cost recovery framework to ensure the agency’s financial sustainability and continued delivery of specialized services.
Anosike pointed out that while the current Act permits NIMET to charge for aviation-related services under Sections 7(1)(i) and 7(2), it lacks provisions to enable similar charges for services in other key sectors such as maritime, construction, and telecommunications.
“This legal omission has resulted in significant revenue losses and placed limitations on our infrastructure development. Implementing a cost recovery mechanism is vital to meeting the increasing demand for high-quality meteorological services,” he noted.
He concluded by stressing the importance of aligning NIMET’s operations with international standards, particularly by ensuring that sectors benefiting from its data and services contribute to its sustainability.