The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) air quality monitoring stations nationwide are in deplorable state, jeopardizing the agency’s ability to fulfill its critical mandate effectively. This was discovered after a comprehensive audit exercise of NiMet’s air quality monitoring stations published at its website.
The audit which was commissioned in February 2024 by NiMet management headed by the DG/CEO, Prof. Charles Anosike, concluded that; “NiMet’s air quality monitoring stations nationwide are in a deplorable state and that the comprehensive audit exercise was aimed to evaluate the operational status and condition of seven critical air quality monitoring stations strategically located across the country in Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Yola, Enugu, Lagos, and Abuja.
These facilities, representing a substantial financial investment by the agency, are pivotal in monitoring air quality and providing essential data to support environmental policies and public health initiatives nationwide.
The leader of the audit team, Mrs. Olumide Olaniyan, the General Manager, Air Quality Monitoring Unit, reported that the findings of the audit exercise painted a profoundly concerning picture, unveiling the deplorable state of these stations with the exception of Sokoto which has just been installed and Yola where the installation is still ongoing.
The deteriorating condition of the stations poses a serious risk to the agency’s operations and the country’s ability to address air quality issues, which are vital for safeguarding public health and supporting sustainable environmental practices.
