President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, signed into law the bill for an act to amend the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET Act to grant the Nigeria Meteorological Agency sole authority to grant approvals and licenses for the establishment of meteorological stations and other related matters sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency, ABN TV reports.

The NIMET bill was listed among the eight bills signed into law by President Buhari, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Nasiru Baballe lla said in a statement.

The bill which was first read on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019 seeks to repeal the Nigerian Metrological Agency (Establishment, etc.) Act, No. 9 of 2003, enacts the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Act, to provide for a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the regulation of meteorology in Nigeria.

It further advises the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policies in the field of meteorology; and issue weather forecasts for the safe operation of air-crafts, ocean-going vessels, and oil rigs in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

In his lead debate, the member stated that following the massive land mass of the Country, 54 meteorological observation stations nationwide is a far cry from the required 9000 observation stations also stating the difficulty for the government to fund the establishment of the stations. According to the debate:

“Section 7(1)(q) of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency Act provides for the agency to be the sole authority that approves and establishes meteorological centers in Nigeria. This inadvertently makes it unlawful for any other person to establish a meteorological station anywhere in Nigeria irrespective of its purposes.  

"This means that all the universities, polytechnics, colleges, secondary schools, and even private sectors that own and run meteorological observation do so contrary to the laws of the land.

"You will acknowledge the fact that 54 meteorological observation stations nationwide are a far cry from the required 9000 observation stations. 

"It is also worrisome that we are far below the expectation and recommendation of the World Meteorological Organization, we must realize how difficult it is for government to directly fund through the agency, the establishment of as many as 9000 meteorological stations.  The way to go therefore is to open up the sector by identifying the existing stations that are not part of the network run by the agency, approve and license them and as well enter into collaboration with them, upgrade them, and provide them with the necessary support.  At the moment there are about 40 universities, 36 polytechnics and 32 colleges of education, and thousands of secondary schools that have meteorological stations. Licensing and regulating the existing meteorological stations as well as other intending stations will be a quick way of improving upon the density of meteorological stations across the federation.”

With this Act becoming law, the Agency is empowered by this Act as the sole authority to approve, license, certify and regulate the establishment of meteorological stations for meteorological observations, the operators and operating personnel at a fee to be prescribed by the Agency and where necessary, make regulation in this regard, save for aeronautical meteorological services.

Historically, this would be one of the rare moments that a bill sponsored by a first-time member of the House of Representatives becomes law.

Rep. Benjamin Kalu who was ecstatic with this development while speaking with ABN TV Correspondent from Sydney New South Wales Australia, expressed delight in seeing that his efforts on this bill have come to fruition. The lawmaker recalled that this was the second bill that he sponsored on the floor of the House upon resumption into office as a result of the change in weather conditions as a result of global warming in society and the need to observe the weather conditions more accurately.

Rep. Kalu thanked the President for his commitment to the security and welfare of the citizens by signing this Act into Law, adding that with this law, there will be an increase in the density of meteorological observation stations across the federation to meet the standards set by the World Meteorological Organization among other things.  

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/president-buhari-signs-rep-benjamin-kalus-nimet-bill-into-law/

Additional problem

very good....some people went to the parliament, there only achievement is i became governor @ d age of 38!

I dey come first make i finish wetin i dey do. I go read the news later.

Modified: sha na good news abi na bad news.

Nice

ok

Nice one.

Reading.

When will Buhari sign bill to remove incompetent presidents like him from office and removing incompetent aspirants like Tinubu from contesting for any position in Nigeria...

We igbos are behind you 100percent God bless PMB
Igbo Amaka

Nice one from the president

Za xu!!!

Ipobians will not like this at all. Well-done Honorable!

Metrix147:


Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/president-buhari-signs-rep-benjamin-kalus-nimet-bill-into-law/

The most useless man in Nigeria. First he said moneybag (Tinubu) will not be allowed to hijack APC primary. Yet Tinubu successfully bought not only the delegates but most of the aspirants. Now he is saying he will not allow anyone to rig 2023 general election even though he will end up not doing anything to prevent it from happening. Very useless man.

If I tell you say I understand this thing I dey lie

Kalu's bill not Nigeria's. Funny tittle

I thought they are signing that gun bill into law




Glocks in the mattress, Choppas in the shed

E

foolish bill

Hmmm

All those agencies they're using to loot billions of Naira

Metrix147:


Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/president-buhari-signs-rep-benjamin-kalus-nimet-bill-into-law/

Some people went 2 d parliment

I'm sure Buhari doesn't understand that bill

They ask him to sign and he sign

Chopcy29:
If I tell you say I understand this thing I dey lie

I'm just like you o..ko ye mi


But what i think it means is that it has to do with space and studying of cosmic happening and aviation station around the country... They want to make it a course in the University or so.i may be wrong..let an efiwe come and explain better to us please.