The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) yesterday said it had acquired new radar components for the Doppler weather radar system, to boost airspace safety.

The components for the radar system were delivered last week and ferried to their different locations for installations.

They are expected to be installed in Ikeja (Lagos Airport) and Kano Airport.

Director-General of NiMET, Prof. Sani Mashi, told newsmen in Lagos that the contract for the new components cost the agency about N400m to acquire.

According to him, the money was funded through the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) fund.

He said: “When the contract was designed in 2007, there was a design problem. The radar was supposed to be mounted on top of a tower. At Kano and Lagos locations, there were towers that were erected in 1974. So, the contract was designed in such a way that rather than constructing a new tower, those old towers of 1974 would be used so to save more money. That was how the project was under-designed.

“So, when I took over, I discovered the project got stalled. The contractors inspected the towers and came back with a report that the towers were so weak and they can’t hoist anything because of the heavy load. The weight of the tower is about 12 tonnes. So, they said it had to be because it was not part of the original contract, they said there was nothing they could do.

“So, the components have been delivered last week and they are in Ikeja and Kano. We are going to erect them. Already they have delivered the towers in these two locations. So, as soon as we finish the installation, which will just take about two months, the Americans who were doing the contract will now come and mount the radar on top.”

He disclosed that the agency is on the verge of attaining 80 per cent total coverage of the country by June this year with the installation of the new components. MMashi stressed that with the installation of the components, Nigeria would by June, achieve 80 per cent of its airspace coverage, averring that the agency had earlier installed same equipment in Port Harcourt and Abuja.

“You know Doppler Radar System is an instrument that major characteristics of precipitation and as you know, precipitation, storm intensity, storm direction and other things can affect flight and operations, which means that with us now in a position to measure so much characteristics or precipitation, we will now be in a position to have adequate information that will help us to ensure that planning operations are made quite safe, and sustainable within the country. That is a major breakthrough,” he said. (Daily Trust)

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