Accurate Data is Crucial for Effective Water Resource Management— NIHSA DG

By Mohammed Bello Doka

The Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, emphasized the critical importance of accurate and timely data for effective water resource management and disaster risk reduction during a recent meeting with a delegation from the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) & Africa. 

The GMES & Africa team, led by Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje, visited NIHSA to congratulate the Director General on his appointment and to explore potential collaborations on hydrological monitoring and data sharing in Nigeria. Dr. Agbaje provided an overview of the GMES initiative, highlighting its role in providing vital environmental and security information across Africa. He commended NIHSA for its ongoing efforts in hydrological monitoring and discussed possible areas of collaboration, such as capacity building, technology transfer, and data sharing.

In response, the Director General expressed his appreciation for the work GMES & Africa has been doing in Nigeria and underscored the necessity of reliable data in managing water resources effectively and reducing disaster risks. He noted that NIHSA's commitment to improving hydrological monitoring is a key element in safeguarding communities against the effects of climate change.

Dr. Amadou Sall, representing the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) in Senegal, and coordinator of the Sustainable Management of Wetlands and Floods in West Africa (GDZHIAO), also stressed the importance of continued collaboration with NIHSA. He highlighted NIHSA's crucial role in monitoring and predicting water levels, which is essential for early warning systems and disaster preparedness across West Africa.

The meeting was deemed highly productive, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration between NIHSA and GMES & Africa. This partnership aims to enhance hydrological monitoring and data sharing in Nigeria, ultimately contributing to better water resource management and disaster risk mitigation across the country and the broader West African region.