By Mohammed Bello Doka
Communiqué from the NIHSA 2-Day Retreat: Roadmapping Water Resource Management for the Next Four Years
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has successfully concluded a two-day retreat held from August 14th to 15th, 2024, dedicated to “Defining and Roadmapping the Operations of the Agency in the Next Four Years.” This retreat aimed to reassess NIHSA's role in managing Nigeria's surface and groundwater resources to ensure efficient and sustainable water management.
The event brought together participants from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWR&S), the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), FIFABS Consultancy, and the host agency itself. Noteworthy presentations included Prof. I. L. Bashir’s insights on Flood and Drought Mitigation Strategies and Prof. E. A. Adanu’s analysis of Nigeria’s Drainage Pattern and Flood Events.
The discussions highlighted several key areas. There was a focus on evaluating the functionality of Nigeria’s dams and exploring the potential for lock dams to aid in flood control. Challenges faced by the Great Green Wall (GGW) project, particularly related to water scarcity in the Sahara Desert, were also examined. The potential for desalination in the South and the need for nationwide flood vulnerability mapping were discussed as ways to manage flood risks effectively. The retreat also extensively deliberated on recharging Lake Chad and addressing misconceptions about the Lagdo Dam’s impact on the Benue River Basin.
In their conclusions, participants deemed the transfer of water from the Congo Basin to Lake Chad as unfeasible due to scientific, political, and economic barriers. They emphasized the importance of identifying recharge zones within river basins to manage excess flood waters and recommended strengthening tree planting efforts in the Sahel to combat desertification. Additionally, there was a call for the provision of alternative energy sources like coal briquettes and economic afforestation to mitigate deforestation. River training and desilting were also identified as crucial for managing flood risks.
The participants agreed on the need for a follow-up engagement to thoroughly discuss water policies and improve policy formulation and implementation. This will support the effective execution of the proposed strategies and help protect Nigeria’s water resources.
The communiqué was issued at the NIHSA Headquarters in Abuja on August 15, 2024 and signed by Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed
Director General, NIHSA
Read the full communique below.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) held a two (2) day retreat from 14th -15th August, 2024 on “Defining and Roadmapping the Operations of the Agency in the next four (4) Years” with the view to re-appraising its mandate in providing services required for the assessment of the nation's surface and groundwater resources in terms of quantity, quality, distribution and availability in time and space for efficient and sustainable management of the water resources. The participants of the two (2) day retreat were drawn from Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWR&S), National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), FIFABS Consultancy and the host, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Two papers were presented namely; Flood and Drought Mitigation Strategies by Prof. I L. Bashir and Nigeria Drainage Pattern and Flood Events by Prof. E. A. Adanu. Highlights of the brainstorming session are as follows: The number of dams in Nigeria, their functionality and the possibility of introducing lock dams to harvest flood waters as flood control strategies;The challenges of the Great Green Wall (GGW) project in the area of tree planting in the Sahara Desert to combat desertification and its failure due to unavailability of water up North;The possibility of desalinization of fresh waters in the South;Carrying-out flood vulnerability mapping nationwide to map out flood prone areas and divert excess flood waters into mini basins.The possibility of recharging the Lake Chad was extensively discussed and identifying possible avenues to do so;Correcting the notion that flood in the Benue River Basin is mainly caused by release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. After extensive deliberations, participants considered and noted the following:The Lake Chad water transfer from outside (Congo Basin) is not a viable venture considering scientific, political and economic imperatives; The need to identify recharge zones within the basins for channeling excess flood waters for other uses.The need to emphasize tree planting within the Sahel region to combat drought and desertification through collaboration with relevant Agencies;The need to provide alternative sources of energy by government for the poor such as coal briquette and economic afforestation as a strategy to curtail or mitigate deforestation. The need to carry-out river training and desilting of river channels to mitigate flood.To enhance the capacity of NIHSA in synergy with relevant organizations (local and international) to encourage research for optimization of water resources in Nigeria. It is recommended that a follow-up engagement be considered where water policies can be discussed thoroughly for better understanding of policy formulation. This will aid the effective implementation of viable suggestions proffered, to protect the water integrity of the country.Done in NIHSA Headquarters, Abuja dated 15th August, 2024.
Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed
Director General, NIHSA.
Prof. I. L. Bashir
FIFABSS Consultancy and Educational Services
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