The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology has pledged its commitment to strengthening the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to enhance its role in ensuring safety across critical sectors, especially in the aviation industry.
The Chairman of the Committee, Tajudeen Abisodun, made the pledge on Tuesday at a public hearing on a bill to amend the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Act No. 29 of 2022, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
He noted that the proposed amendments are aimed at enhancing the agency’s capacity to deliver accurate and timely meteorological services essential for national safety, particularly in the aviation industry.
He said, “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 added that the amendment seeks to primarily review Section 13 (2) of the existing Act, which he described as critical to enabling the agency to meet its growing mandate.
According to the federal lawmaker, enhancing 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 event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the deliberation reflects the legislature’s unwavering commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency.
Represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Isiaka, the Speaker argued that improving service delivery through strategic legislation remains a key focus of the House, stressing that improved meteorological services would have far-reaching benefits for public safety and national development.
The sponsor of the bill, Abisodun Akinlade, explained that the amendment is intended to reposition NIMET for optimal service delivery.
“NIMET is the only statutory body authorised 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 his contribution, the Director General of NIMET, Prof Charles Anosike, called for the inclusion of a cost recovery framework to ensure the agency’s financial sustainability and continued delivery of specialised services.
He 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.
