The Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu has successfully achieved certification to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)’s Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001:2015 for the provision of aeronautical meteorological services to the aviation industry.
Following the certification, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN has directed the director-general of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosik to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous improvement of Nigeria’s rating by WMO and ICAO.
This milestone was reached after a thorough third-party audit of NiMet’s products and services offered to airlines at Enugu International Airport by Certech Inc., Canada. NiMet’s services were confirmed to meet the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard after a rigorous audit conducted from July 15 to 17, 2024.
NiMet was previously recertified to the ISO standard in July 2023 for several major airports, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa. The ISO certification remains valid for three years, with annual surveillance and maintenance audits until the next recertification due in 2026.
The recent certification achievement of NiMet’s ISO 9001:2015 for the provision of meteorological services to five Nigerian international airports deserves commendation.
Efforts are underway to extend this certification to seven additional international airports: Maiduguri, Asaba, Owerri, Ibadan, Katsina, Yola and Kaduna.
In a letter to the Anosike, dated July 17, 2024, with the heading ‘ISO 9001:2015’ and signed by lead auditor and director at Certech Frank Strohmeier, the certification agency stated: “The audit objectives for the surveillance audit were achieved. A systematic process audit was performed with emphasis on risks and objectives per ISO 9001:2015.”
The third-party audit by Certech Inc., Canada, resulted in the issuance of a revised certificate stating: “The Nigerian Meteorological Agency Quality Management System conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 for the provision of meteorological services to the aviation industry.”
Remarkably, this certification was achieved successfully on the first attempt at auditing NiMet’s AeroMet products and services at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ISO 9001:2015.
Speaking on the development, the NiMet DG, “We are excited about this. Our Quality Management System (QMS) team, led by Usman Abdulrahman, has been working tirelessly to achieve this feat. We are not stopping here, as management is focused on the overall improvement of standards at all our operational locations.”
This accomplishment signifies a significant step forward for NiMet and the aviation industry in Nigeria, showcasing their commitment to maintaining high standards and ensuring the safety and efficiency of their services.
