The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Nimet) has certified the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu to its quality management system ISO 9001:2015 scope for the provision of Aeronautical Meteorological Services (AMS) to the Aviation industry.
A statement by Nimet, said that this feat was achieved after a successful third-party audit of NiMet’s products and services offered to airlines at Enugu International Airport by Certech Inc. Canada.
According to the statement, NiMet’s services were found to be in conformity with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 standard after a rigorous audit that lasted three days; July 15 through 17, 2024.
The statement said that Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, had directed Prof. Charles Anosike, the Director-General, Nimet to ensure strict compliance of the nation’s airports with safety regulations and continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s rating by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Also, NiMet was successfully recertified to the ISO standard in July 2023 for Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, Aminu Kano International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa.
The ISO certification is usually valid for three years period with a yearly surveillance and maintenance audit until the next recertification due date in the year 2026, the statement said.
The statement emphasised that work was also ongoing for additional seven international airports; Maiduguri, Asaba, Owerri, Ibadan, Katsina, Yola and Kaduna to be added to the scope of the QMS ISO certification in NiMet.
A letter to the Director-General, Nimet, dated July 17, 2024, with the heading: ‘ISO 9001:2015’, and signed by Frank Strohmeier, Lead Auditor and Director at Certech, the certification agency said that the objectives for the surveillance audit were achieved.
“A systematic process audit was performed with emphasis on risks and objectives per ISO 9001:2015,” the statement said.
Accordingly, the 3rd party audit by Certech Inc. Canada resulted in the issuance of a revised certificate that states; ‘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.’
It is noteworthy that this feat was achieved successfully at the very first time NiMet’s AeroMet products and services at Akanu lbiam lnternational Airport, Enugu, is being audited for certificatation to the ISO 9001:2015.
“We are excited about this. Our Quality Management System (QMS) team led by Usman Abdulrahman have been working round the clock to achieve this feat. We are not stopping here as management is focused on overall improvement of standards at all our operational locations,” Anosike said.
