NiMET installs 7 AMD platforms at MMIA, NAIA, five others, as four airports set for privatisation

Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) says it has installed seven automatic message dissemination (AMD) platforms at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as well as the facilities in Maiduguri and  Kaduna.

This is also as the Federal Government announced plans to take over four airports in the country considered to be non-viable.

Director-General, NiMET, Prof. Mansur Matazu, made this known at the weekend at the first edition of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC) held in Abuja.

Matazu, explained the equipment would further enhance safety of humans and equipment in the industry and ensure accuracy in information dissemination.

Matazu, in a paper titled, ‘Enhancing Aviation Safety for Sustainable Development: The Role of NiMET,’ disclosed that the same automatic message dissemination platforms would be procured for Sokoto and Katsina airports in the coming months.

NiMET, he said also has upper air stations at Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos, Calabar and Yola.

The NiMET boss also revealed that the agency has also secured and installed 10 NiMet-Earth Network Lightening Detecting and Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) stations in Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Ilorin, Yola, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports.

AWOS, he explained, is a fully configured airport weather system that provides continuous, real time information and reports on airport weather conditions and that the agency  has six radar stations in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Maiduguri, Kano and Lagos airports.

According to Matazu, “Prevention of weather occurrences is beyond human’s technological thrust. It took scientists and industry experts a great deal of effort over many years to understand the complexity of many weather phenomena like windshear and others. Early warning and detection mechanisms have proven to be the only dependable solution to the hazards of weather and climate.”

“In NiMet we work round the clock to provide continuous weather information. This weather information is perishable and must be consumed at the right time. We therefore encourage all our stakeholders, especially pilots and the flying crews to take advantage of our products and services and ensure safety of lives and property at our airports and en-route destinations,” he added.

He also appealed to stakeholders in every section of the economy, especially aviation, to take advantage of the agency’s mobile app and website for regular information on seasonal climate predictions, adding that this would go a long way to save unnecessary losses.

He explained that NiMet had moved from just generating forecasts to producing forecasts with implications.

Meanwhile, Federal Government has announced plans to take over some state-owned airports amid increase in passenger traffic

This was made known during the just-concluded Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s National Aviation Conference by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

Already four airports have been marked down more will follow in the coming months including privatization.

The Minister listed some of the airports to be taken over are Kebbi, Dutse, Bauchi and Gombe airports, adding that most of the state’s airports across Nigeria will eventually be given to the private sector for effective and efficient management.

“Nigeria actually has 43 airports, some of which are airstrips where flights take off and land, among these 43 airports, some are federal airports, some are state owned and others are privately owned.”

Other plans for Nigeria’s aviation industry,” Sirika said.

The Minister also disclosed that the federal government is determined to pursue the components of the aviation roadmaps which include the establishment of aircraft leasing companies, aircraft Maintenance Repair and overhaul investments, and National carrier and airport concessions, amongst others.

He said these components have reached advanced stages and will be completed before the end of President Buhari’s administration.

He challenged investors to tap into the myriads of opportunities in the sector, especially with the recently approved 12 hectares of land for implementation of the aviation roadmap by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Nigeria’s aviation has a lot of potential and can leverage its population, natural resources and natural resources amongst others to become a leader in Africa. We need to take advantage of these variables.”

Nigerian government announces over N225bn revenue from electricity export,” Sirika said.