A recent audit of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) air quality monitoring stations has revealed alarming deficiencies in the agency’s infrastructure, painting a troubling picture of neglect and operational challenges.
The audit, published on NiMet’s official website, was commissioned in February 2024 by the agency’s director-general, Prof. Charles Anosike, as part of efforts to assess the state of critical facilities across the country. The findings have exposed the dire condition of these stations, raising concerns about NiMet’s ability to fulfill its mandate of monitoring air quality and providing essential environmental data.
NiMet, a Federal Government agency, plays a crucial role in advising the government on meteorological matters, issuing weather forecasts, and monitoring air quality to support environmental policies and public health initiatives. However, the audit, which covered seven strategically located air quality monitoring stations in Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Yola, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja, found that many of these facilities are in a state of disrepair, severely hampering their effectiveness.
According to the audit report, led by Mrs. Olumide Olaniyan, general manager of the Air Quality Monitoring Unit, the stations in Kano, Maiduguri, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja are in particularly deplorable condition. Only the recently installed station in Sokoto and the ongoing installation in Yola were found to be in acceptable condition. The report highlighted that the neglect of these stations has compromised their ability to function, limiting the agency’s capacity to provide reliable data crucial for safeguarding public health and informing environmental policies.
One of the most striking findings was the incomplete installation of the Kano station, where a contractor failed to finish the job more than five years after being awarded the contract. This delay has prevented the official handover of the facility to NiMet, rendering it non-operational. In Enugu, the situation is similarly bleak; although the station was fully installed and functional in 2013, it ceased operations in 2015. The station’s critical equipment, including gas analyzers and wind sensors, were taken away for servicing and upgrades in 2019 but have yet to be returned, leaving the station incapacitated.
The audit also uncovered issues with ill-conceived contracts, lack of contractor compliance, and inadequate maintenance capabilities. Many contracts were poorly executed, leading to abandoned stations and equipment failures. The findings underscore the failure of previous managements to allocate resources and attention to these critical facilities, resulting in their current state of neglect.
Anosike, reflecting on the audit’s findings, emphasized the importance of the exercise in understanding the challenges facing NiMet. He noted that the audit was part of a broader mandate from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and improve Nigeria’s rating by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “The findings of the audit of NiMet’s air quality monitoring stations, though shocking, will help management to determine areas to channel resources,” Anosike said.
A significant challenge highlighted in the audit is the unreliable power supply at many of the stations, which has led to frequent malfunctions and breakdowns of sensitive monitoring equipment. The lack of effective backup systems has further exacerbated these issues, causing extended downtimes and compromising the reliability of data collection. The audit stressed the need to address these power-related challenges to ensure the stations can operate uninterrupted and provide accurate air quality data.
Despite the damning findings, the audit report offers a path forward for NiMet. It calls for a comprehensive strategy to revitalise and strengthen the air quality monitoring network, urging the current management to adopt a forward-looking approach. This includes prioritising the restoration and modernisation of these facilities, ensuring that previous investments are not rendered futile.
The report also acknowledges the positive steps already taken by the new management, led by Anosike, who has been in office for only eight months. The current leadership has shown a keen interest in air quality monitoring and has begun implementing some of the audit’s recommendations. These efforts include securing increased funding for equipment procurement, maintenance and capacity-building initiatives.
In July 2024, NiMet organised a training program for staff of its air quality monitoring unit, focusing on modern techniques and leveraging both satellite and in-situ data for air quality analysis. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the skills of personnel and improve the agency’s capacity to monitor air quality effectively.
The audit report serves as a wake-up call for NiMet and the relevant authorities. By implementing the recommendations and securing the necessary resources, the agency can rebuild a robust and reliable air quality monitoring network across Nigeria. This, in turn, will enable NiMet to fulfill its mandate, support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment for all Nigerians.
