More troubles for airport users as NIMET predicts weather deterioration

Airlines and passengers may be facing difficult times going forward as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) last week announced further weather deterioration, which may lead to more flight delays and cancellations.
The agency said that a fresh dust is been observed over western Chad and south eastern Niger republic which will further deteriorate horizontal visibilities across the country especially over the north eastern parts.
The implications of this is that the industry may lose more revenue as it realises about N2 billion daily from ticket sales. Experts say not less than 50percent of revenues were lost since the development.
The agency stated that moderate visibility is already being reported over Maiduguri, Kano, Nguru, Obudu, Asaba, Jos, Minna, Abuja, Makurdi, Gombe, Yelwa, Lagos, Akure and Awka.
Consequently, the agency noted that the expected reduction in visibility due to harmattan dust haze may cause cancellation and delay of flights; saying this is for the safety of air travellers.
Anthony Anuforom, Director-General of NIMET, said that most parts of Northern Cities such as, Katsina, Maiduguri, Kano, Gusau, Damaturu, Nguru, Bauchi and Zaria are expected to experience a further reduction in horizontal visibilities to less than 1000m in about 10 hours from time of issuance or less.
He noted that a further reduction in visibility is expected over parts of the Central Cities such as Abuja, Minna, Bida, Lafia, Jos, Makurdi, Lokoja, in thick dust haze condition with visibilities of 1000m or less in the next 18 hours or less from time of issuance.

According to him, “Southern cities including Enugu, Asaba, Ibadan, Lagos, Akure, Owerri and Port Harcourt are also expected to still be under the influence of thick to moderate dust haze (visibility 2-5km) and localized visibility less than 1000m in the next 24hrs.”
It will be recalled that from 25th till 27th of December 2016, MMA in Lagos operated skeletal flights as a result of the weather. During the period the weather was hazy, no airline could fly and passengers were delayed with colossal loss of revenue to the operators.
A Dana air flight that departed Abuja at 10am on 27th of December could not land in Lagos and had to return to Abuja until 6pm before flying back again still leaving about 500 to 600 passengers to various destinations stranded at the airport.
Most international and local flights had to be diverted to Cotounu on 27th of December. The issue of the harmattan haze is a yearly seasonal occurrence as Nigeria has mainly Raining (Thunderstorms) and Dry Seasons.

 

IFEOMA OKEKE