Abuja-based publisher, Bonaventure Melah, has condemned what he described as a calculated and malicious media campaign targeted at discrediting the Director-General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike.
In a statement titled: “Who Is afraid of Prof. Anosike’s bold footprints at NiMet?”, Melah pointed to a recent wave of online reports linking the NiMet boss to alleged contract fraud, which he described as deliberately misleading and factually incorrect.
According to him, the stories were designed to smear Anosike’s name and possibly orchestrate a leadership change at the agency.
Melah noted that the stories, published by at least three online media platforms, falsely suggested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was probing Anosike over multi-billion naira contracts.
However, he clarified that the contracts under review were awarded in 2021—two years before Prof. Anosike assumed office in December 2023.
He explained that the EFCC’s letter of inquiry was addressed to NiMet’s heads of Human Resources and Procurement and requested information on travel documents related to the contracts.
Despite this, the online platforms used Prof. Anosike’s name in their headlines, suggesting he was directly involved—an act Melah described as dishonest and aimed at public deception.
He further pointed out that NiMet’s management issued an official rebuttal that clearly addressed the issues raised in the initial reports. However, a third outlet ignored the facts presented in the statement and republished the same story—verbatim—further reinforcing the notion that the attacks were orchestrated and politically motivated.
Melah warned that such character assassination tactics are part of a growing “pull-him-down” culture in Nigeria that seeks to frustrate public officers who distinguish themselves through visionary leadership and tangible results.
He stressed that Anosike has within a short period transformed NiMet into a performance-driven, digitally-focused agency that contributes significantly to national development and aviation safety. He cited the recent introduction of an e-flight folder system, which enables automated weather reporting and enhances flight operations in line with global best practices.
The journalist also highlighted the agency’s success in issuing early flood warnings to protect farmlands, infrastructure, and human lives. He noted that these alerts have significantly reduced the impact of flooding across the country in recent years.
Melah stated that Anosike’s efforts have been widely recognised, earning him two high-profile awards within a matter of weeks.
On February 22, 2025, he received the African Public Sector Leadership Impact Award from the African Leadership Magazine in Casablanca, Morocco. Less than a month later, on March 15, he was named Aviation Sector CEO of the Year 2024 by Independent Newspapers at a ceremony in Lagos.
He described these awards as a testament to Anosike’s competence, dedication, and the remarkable progress recorded under his leadership at NiMet—progress that has unsettled detractors who prefer to weaponize the media instead of celebrating success.
Melah also referenced a recent article by labour dispute expert Wakili El-Habib, who praised NiMet’s turnaround under Anosike but expressed concern about internal sabotage from a few self-serving labour leaders and some top staff seeking to influence the agency’s leadership trajectory.
El-Habib noted that NiMet, under Anosike, paid outstanding minimum wage arrears dating back to 2019, and had sponsored over 1,000 staff for professional training in the last year alone. These achievements, he said, were indicators of responsive leadership and commitment to staff welfare.
Melah concluded by urging Nigerians to reject smear campaigns and to support capable professionals who have chosen to serve the country with distinction. He stated that Nigeria needs more leaders like Anosike, whose track record spans over 25 years of service in both the private sector and academia.
According to him, Anosike’s appointment was based on merit, and his transformation of NiMet reflects a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the national interest.
