A report circulating in the media indicates that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has rated the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as one of the best performing institutions in the country, awarding it a score of 82.65 per cent on its 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).
NiMet emerged as the first and only agency in the aviation sector to attain this category of ranking and recognition. This was conveyed in a letter from the ICPC dated 29 December 2025, which ranked NiMet among the top 10 out of 344 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) assessed nationwide. The letter further stated that the agency achieved “Substantial Compliance,” placing 11th out of 356 MDAs on the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index (AEI), where it scored 82.50 per cent.
According to the letter, NiMet’s performance earned it a “Very Effective” status for its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit. Available records show that the ICPC EICS evaluation was based on key pillars including Management Culture and Structure, Financial Management Systems, Administrative Systems, and the effectiveness of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units. The assessment affirmed the strength of the agency’s compliance framework, governance mechanisms and the effectiveness of its operational systems.
The letter, signed by the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, commended NiMet for the structures and processes it has established to promote efficiency and integrity, while encouraging the agency’s management to sustain the standards achieved to ensure consistency in ratings and continuous improvement in service delivery.
Reacting to the rating, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, welcomed the development, noting that it also represents a challenge for the management to do more. He stated that NiMet remains committed to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of its mandate, and will continue to strengthen its institutional processes in line with national integrity standards.
NiMet’s recent recognition comes against the background of broader reforms and leadership changes within the agency since Anosike assumed office as Chief Executive Officer in December 2023. At the time, the agency faced a range of institutional challenges, including weak leadership drive, slow migration to modern technologies and a demoralised workforce affected by unpaid entitlements and outstanding claims.
Over the past two years, the management has pursued reforms focused on strengthening leadership capacity, improving institutional efficiency and modernising operations. The agency has leveraged digital innovations and entered into strategic partnerships with local and international institutions to address operational gaps and improve service delivery. These efforts have been aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasises improved public service delivery, as well as the supervisory oversight of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, SAN, with an emphasis on compliance with high operational standards.
As a result, NiMet has recorded a series of operational and infrastructural upgrades aimed at improving the accuracy, reliability and impact of Nigeria’s weather services. The agency continues to work with the World Meteorological Organization and other partners to enhance the communication of climate information to the public and to support the Sustainable Development Goals through the provision of data for combating desertification and restoring land affected by drought. These initiatives underscore NiMet’s expanding role beyond daily weather reporting to long-term climate and environmental protection.
In pursuit of institutional synergy, NiMet has signed partnership agreements with sister government agencies, universities and research institutions within Nigeria and internationally. These collaborations are aimed at building a climate-resilient society and mitigating the impact of extreme weather events through improved research, data sharing and capacity development.
Among the notable milestones recorded by the agency is the digitalisation of operations, including the replacement of the traditional manual flight folder system with an electronic flight folder, known as the e-flight folder. The system provides virtual access to a comprehensive suite of flight briefing applications, including weather reports, for pilots and airlines, supporting informed decision-making and enhanced aviation safety.
NiMet has also upgraded its weather presentation infrastructure to 4K resolution through a partnership with global technology firm Chyron. The facility plays a central role in the agency’s current weather presentation capabilities and represents a key milestone in its commitment to delivering world-class meteorological services.
In addition, the agency has completed a full audit of dilapidated infrastructure and poorly conceived projects, and has unveiled the Aeronautical Meteorology Bulletin, a publication designed to promote deeper understanding of meteorology within the aviation industry. The bulletin is intended to support airlines, pilots, air traffic controllers and ground services in anticipating and managing weather-related challenges.
Another major focus area has been the agency’s Seasonal Climate Prediction, a flagship early warning product for farmers, livestock practitioners and other sectors of the economy. This has been complemented by the introduction of a co-production process that engages stakeholders in weather-sensitive sectors to develop user-tailored forecasts. To improve accessibility and uptake, these forecasts are translated into Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin.
NiMet has also launched a centralised Secure Aviation Data Information Service Application Programming Interface platform to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. The initiative forms part of the broader modernisation of aviation weather services, with Nigeria positioned as a leading example on the African continent.
In the area of sustainability, the agency deployed electric vehicles for airside operations across Nigeria’s five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. This marked the first deployment of electric vehicles in the country’s aviation sector, aligning with national clean energy and climate resilience objectives. The vehicles have a range of up to 200 kilometres on a single charge and are supported by dedicated charging stations at each location.
Further strengthening its quality assurance framework, NiMet and other aviation stakeholders conducted nationwide Quality Management System engagements across major airports to enhance service delivery, improve aviation safety and sustain the agency’s ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services.
The agency has also participated in several multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the launch of the ENACTS Initiative by NiMet, Sahel, IRI and the Gates Foundation to strengthen access to climate data under the Building Agricultural Systems Resilience in Nigeria Project. NiMet was also represented at an Investor Roundtable hosted by the Nigerian Exchange Group to mark the International Sustainability Standards Board Preparers Readiness Programme and to strengthen partnerships among agencies with shared objectives.
International collaboration has featured prominently in NiMet’s activities, including a partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco on artificial intelligence-based weather forecasting and early warning systems. At the event, Anosike and his Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Dhkissi, pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the application of artificial intelligence to enhance climate resilience.
Domestically, the agency entered into a strategic alliance with the National Information Technology Development Agency to strengthen its information and communication technology capacity and enhance service credibility. A separate memorandum of understanding was signed with Landmark University to advance meteorological research and climate science education, improve climate data collection and analysis, and support national environmental resilience and sustainable development initiatives.
NiMet’s recent achievements have been accompanied by national and international recognition. Within the past 24 months, Anosike has received several awards, including Best Federal MDA in Open Data Excellence at the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards 2025, which also conferred on him the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer’s Award, Aviation Sector CEO of the Year 2024, and the 2025 African Public Sector Leadership Impact Award organised by African Leadership Magazine in Casablanca, Morocco. He was honoured at the event alongside other dignitaries, including serving African presidents and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The National Association of Nigerian Students also recognised him with an Outstanding Mentorship Award.
NiMet’s emergence among the top 10 out of 344 MDAs on the ICPC Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard is viewed as a significant institutional milestone for the agency, reinforcing confidence in its governance framework and underscoring expectations of sustained improvement in performance and service delivery.
