The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIMET

  • Jonathan approves board for four Aviation agencies

    Jonathan approves board for four Aviation agencies

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the composition of the governing boards of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, said that the dates for the board of director’s inauguration will be announced in due course by the Minister of Aviation.

    The details of the non-institutional and relevant institutional members of the Boards, according to the statement, include Olusola Oke as Chairman of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency while members are C. J. Udeh, Captain Kuti, Okwudili Uzoka, Jerry Ugokwe, H.Z. Abubakar, Lucky Umoru, Captain Megason, A. Chukwuma and Group Captain John Yekorogha (Rtd).

    For the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Dr. Dan Kure is the Chairman.

    Members include Onuora Chinwe Leticia, Hon. Halima Hassan Tukur, Ngozi Lavender, Mr Farouk Gumel, Amobi Nwokafor, Clement Adegoke Dosunmu, Iboro Edaba Ige, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Dr. Al Amin, Mrs. Patricia Ntofon, Captain Shaifi, Niyi Agbola and Group Captain Henry Unaeze (Rtd).

    Abdullahi Waziri Tambuwal is the Chairman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and members include Col. Tony Igbanoi, Capt. Sabo Sambo, Chief Frank Edonkumor, Captain Alkali, Alhaji Buba, Chief Emeka Akabueze, Captain Edward Bayo, Sokie Amakree, an engineer Captain Ruma Mohammed and Bola Odugbesan.

    Nigerian Meteorological Agency has Chief Yomi Akintola as its Chairman. Members are Capt. Toju Ogisi, Chief Tunde Taiwo, Jim Ogbolu, Mr. Peter Momodu, Mrs Omikunle, Mr. Ralph Ogar, Mrs. Aletche Bimbo, C.C Nwuba, and Tony Odita.

     

  • Rainy season yet to commence – NIMET

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency said on Saturday that the rain which fell on Friday evening in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs was not the beginning of rainy season.
    A statement from the agency said “a sudden weather change occurred over Abuja around 4pm due to a rapid northward movement of the line of demarcation between the south-westerly winds.
    “The winds brought moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and the dry north-easterly winds from the Sahara Desert,” The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Director-General of the agency, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, as saying in the statement.
    Anuforom noted that this led to the influx of moisture to the inland, resulting in the thunderstorms with strong winds.
    “This type of weather occasionally occurs in January when the atmosphere becomes unstable and there is enough moisture in the atmosphere.
    “The unusual heat experienced in Abuja and environs in the last couple of days was connected with the moisture build-up in the atmosphere
    “It is important to state that this is not the beginning of 2014 rainy season in Abuja as the condition is only temporary and is expected to return to normal very soon.
    “The development was not as a result of climate change; the usual January weather will still prevail over the area,” Anuforom said in the statement.

  • ‘NIMET, Accident Bureau did well last year’

    THE Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) recorded significant achievements in aviation safety and security last year, spokesman of the Aviation Parastatals Yakubu Dati has said.

    He listed some of achievements by NIMET to include the installation of the Doppler Weather Radar and the Calibrated Meteorological Instrument used to detect and track hazardous weather systems on real-time basis and which guarantees weather data reliability.

    Wind shear, he said, a major weather hazard that has contributed to many aircraft accidents in the past, adding that with the installation of the equipment the occurrence of low level wind shear can be detected and early warnings relayed to pilots through the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) before take-off and landing.

    “The existence of these instruments guaranteed accurate and timely weather forecasts, measurements and observations that met International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard pilots obtained accurate and reliable weather information prior to every flight out of any Nigerian airport.

    Besides, the AIB can download, extract, decode and analyse the aircraft accident data from the (Cockpit Voice Recorder CVR and (Flight Data Recorder) FDR (Black Boxes), thereby saving time and money and speeding up investigation and upgrading the skills of aircraft accident investigators.

    “With the public release of all nine outstanding accident investigation reports from previous reports from previous years, critical safety information in the form of 36 safety recommendations have been pushed out for implementation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to aid in further enhancing the safety net,” Dati said.

    He said the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), also recorded some achievements as several aircraft and aircraft engines had been overhauled were now back in operation.

    This development, Dati said has increased the training capacity for the college.

    Dati said : ” The college had no Visual Tower Simulator for Air Traffic Control training, but in 2013, a 360 degree Visual Tower Simulator for ATC training was purchased and installed. Also, a Boeing 737-200 for cabin crew training was also procured in 2013.

    “In addition to the positive changes made in NCAT, EADS SOCATA TBM 850single engine turbo prop trainer aircraft, two No Bell 2061-iv helicopters and Gas Turbine Trainers which were unavailable beforeJuly 2011were procured in 2013 for the institution.

    “An ARTMACS Pc-Based Radar Simulator and an Auto pilot Training station has also been procured and installed in the institution.

    “Another commendable milestone recorded in NCAT is the renovated briefing room for pilots which has been in a deplorable state for many years.”

  • NIMET predicts cloudy weather in coastal areas

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted partly cloudy conditions in the coastal area of the southern states with chances of fog or misty conditions during the morning hours on Monday and Tuesday.

    The forecast for January 13 and January 14 is contained in the weather report released on Monday.

    According to the report, in the inland areas, hazy conditions are expected over the entire region during the forecast period.

    Furthermore, it states that the entire southern region would experience maximum temperature between 32 and 35 degrees centigrade.

    In the central states, the forecast stated that dusty and hazy conditions were expected with localised visibility of less than or equal to 3,000 metres over the region.

    The northern states were expected to experience dusty and hazy conditions with localised visibility of less than or equal to 1,000 metres over the region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that temperature for northern states would be between 26 and 35 degree centigrade.

     

  • NIMET predicts hazy weather in coastal areas

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has said there would be hazy conditions with chances of fog in the coastal areas during the early morning hours of Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The agency in its daily weather forecast said the coastal areas would partly be cloudy with slight haze expected in the afternoon.

    In the central states, it showed that dust haze conditions were expected with localised visibility of about 3,000 metres or slightly above that.

    The report also indicated that the states in the northern part of the country were expected to experience dusty and hazy conditions with localised visibility of less than 3,000 metres.

    It said that with the weather expectation, transporters should drive carefully and with their head lamps on for safety, especially in the early hours of the day.

     

  • Rainy season yet to begin, says NIMET

    Rainy season yet to begin, says NIMET

    It was cloudy and cold. Visibility reduced. It began to drizzle and then a downpour. Lagos got its first rain of the year yesterday.

    The rain began around 1.30 pm and lasted for about an hour.

    But the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) described the downpour as normal, especially in coastal towns.

    The agency said the rain was an effect of harmattan.

    NIMET General Manager (Climate Services) Joseph Alozie said in Lagos that it was easy for rain to form when the wind picks moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.

    Alozie said: “It is not unusual for coastal areas, such as Lagos, Edo, Niger Delta, Southeast, to have rain in December and January.

    “It is a normal phenomenon. It is not the usual rainy period. The season is harmattan, but because of the harmattan, it is easy for the rain to form when the wind picks moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.

    “When the wind passes through the ocean, it picks a lot of moisture, which forms cloud and causes rain.”

    The important thing, according to Alozie, is that it is normal for this southern part of the country both in December and January.

    However, the director noted that such rain does not indicate the beginning of the rainy season.

    Describing the downpour as “immeasurable rainfall”, Alozie said the rain connoted that the country is experiencing harmattan.

    Some residents of Ikeja , the Lagos State capital, said the rain was “a welcome development”, adding that it portends good signs for the New Year.

    Mrs. Caroline Ojo, a grocery trader at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), said it was a sign of good things coming this year.

    “God knows that the weather has been too harsh and people are not comfortable, hence He opened the heavens for the rain to fall,’’ she said.

    At the Lagos Airport, some flights were either delayed or cancelled.

    There were , however, skeletal flights due to low passenger traffic.

    Along Airport Road, there was light vehicular movement as the rain did not cause any traffic.

    At the maintenance yard, scores of airport workers gathered to discuss the impact of the early showers, which they said would occasion mild weather and reduce the dust caused by the harmattan.

    At 3.19 pm, a few aircraft hovered in the sky, which became clearer after the rain.

  • NIMET commences installation of marine weather equipment

    The Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom, has disclosed that the agency had commenced installation of marine weather data gathering equipment at the nation’s seaport.

    Anuforom said the equipment, when completed, would enable the agency to provide accurate weather forecast for the maritime sector.

    The DG spoke while delivering his keynote address at the 27th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Meteorological Society (NMS) held in Abuja.

    Anuforom said, “We are installing marine weather data grid, because the marine environment is largely not monitored. Over the years, much of the effort of NIMET has concentrated on monitoring land events and not in the marine environment.

     

    “Thanks to the Federal Government which gave us support to be able to procure a marine data grid. The installation is ongoing at Apapa Port.”

    Anuforom said the gesture was part of the agency’s commitment to providing accurate weather information to relevant stakeholders in the country.

    “We will be able to collect marine weather data which will help us to issue forecast to assist the maritime sector and those operating on oil rigs, helicopter operators in the Niger Delta area, shipping line among others,” he added.

    In his address titled “The Role of NIMET in Mitigating Impacts of Climate Change Hazards in Nigeria”, the DG said climate change and associated extreme weather were global phenomena.

    He said the nation was not immune to effects of global warming.

    According to him, there is need for collaboration and to adopt scientific knowledge to minimise its impacts on the society.

    In his presentation, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, attributed climate change as a factor hindering achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

     

  • NIMET alerts road users, airlines to poor visibility

    The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) yesterday warned airline operators and road users to prepare for poor visibility from the imminent dry season.

    The agency said the effect of the dry season weather would cause early morning and late evening mist.

    In a statement in Abuja by Mrs. Theresa Ushie, for NIMET’s Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, the agency urged North’s residents to stay in a cool and well ventilated environment because the temperature would increase by 3 degrees Celcius.

    The statement reads: “The moderate to major outbreaks of dust from the source region will reduce horizontal visibility significantly and these often lead to disruption of flight operations.

    “The relatively strong, dry and dusty wind from the desert through the North will become prevalent in the South as the dry season progresses. The effect of dust particles in the atmosphere in the South will include occurrence of early morning and late evening fog, which also reduces horizontal visibility significantly during the period.

    “Consequently, air, road and rail transportation are likely to be affected by this impairment of surface horizontal visibility.

    “The 2013 rainy season has come to an end in the extreme northern part of the country while the season is expected to come to an end in the central states and the South by mid-November and the first week in December…

    “Day temperatures will generally increase across the country by as much as about 3°C.”

     

    The agency warned against bush burning, dehydration and increase in human discomforts due to the temperature.

    Road users, especially motorists were therefore advised to exercise caution and adhere strictly to road traffic rules and regulations.

  • NIMET targets N20b revenue from weather forecast service

    NIMET targets N20b revenue from weather forecast service

    The Numeric Weather Prediction (NWP) designed by the Directorate of Weather Forecast, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) is capable of generating about N20 billion annually, Director-General, NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuoforom, has said.

    Anuoforom, said the initiative embraced by specialised weather forecasting centres across the globe is made of sophisticated, knowledge-based weather technique, capable of enhancing safety in the nation’s aviation sector.

    The NIMET boss, who spoke during a briefing at the National Weather and Climate Forecasting Centre, yesterday in Abuja, said the British Meteorological Office is able to generate about N50 billion annually through weather forecast technology.

    He explained that the UK Met Office, commercialised the service by providing weather forecast information to the marine sector, agriculture, military, construction, among others.

    Anuforom said the agency will also commercialise usage of the equipment for maintenance purpose, stressing that with the technology, the agency can detect precise weather information in local locations that are seven kilometers apart, saying that if the relevant sectors in the country could take advantage of the service, the agency is capable of generating the lump sum.

    “We are going to have a sheet in realising our goals by commercialising the NWP for revenue generation. It will do a lot for us in achieving this goal. It will assist in promoting safety in the aviation sector.”

    He said if UK Met can make about N50 billion per annum in 2012 for rendering weather forecast services, NIMET, through the NWP should be able to make at least N20 billion, he however lamented that except for operators in the aviation sector, no other sector, or corporate body patronises the agency in terms of weather forecast service.

    He explained that the NIMET-COSMOS-Model is a non-hydrostatic limited area atmospheric prediction model adapted from the COSMO-DWD, saying it has been designed for both operational NWP and various scientific applications.

    “The system is running in NIMET on the T3600 Dell Precision Workstation at 7km spatial resolution which captures localised weather events such as rain over central area,” he added.

    The initiative is expected to provide for the aviation sector; surface wind and spot winds at the different flight levels, surface air temperature and temperature at different flight levels, surface pressure and pressure at different levels.

  • NIMET advises pilots on thunderstorms

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised airline pilots to always visit its briefing rooms and forecast centres across the country to obtain weather reports, to aid their flight operations.

    Dr Anthony Anuforom, Director General (DG) of the agency, gave the advice on Wednesday while speaking with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Anuforom said that checking the centres would assist the pilots, especially during the rainy season when thunderstorm was expected.

    The DG added that pilots would normally witness thunderstorm while airborne, especially at this season of the year.

    He said that when pilots have such information at their disposal, it would enhance their safety and that of their passengers.

    “Pilots must take the necessary precautions by getting weather situation reports on regular basis.

    “This will not make them compromise the safety of their passengers during flight operations, “ he said.

    He advised the pilots not to be disturbed as the thunderstorm they would experience during the season would not be intense.

    “The challenge pilots contend with around this time of the year are thunderstorm that accompany rainfall, but you can see that the thunderstorm are not intense, “ he said.

    The NIMET boss further advised pilots to also watch out for low and poor visibility, especially during early morning flights.

    Anuforom said that such visibility– usually caused by fog– might be accompanied by heavy rainfall.

    He, however, assured the pilots that the agency would continue to provide accurate weather reports to improve flight operations.

    “For us in NIMET, we are equal to the task because our weather forecasts are getting more accurate, “ he said.