NIHSA Inks Strategic Alliance for Enhanced Flood Management

By Mohammed Bello Doka 

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), led by its Director-General, Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, recently held a strategic virtual meeting with representatives from Foresight Systems Group Limited, aimed at bolstering Nigeria's hydrological and flood management capacities. This high-level discussion, conducted via Zoom, brought together NIHSA's management team and experts from Foresight Systems Group, with a strong focus on forging a collaborative path for advanced hydrological data management.

Throughout the meeting, both sides examined areas for cooperation, particularly in capacity building, financial facilitation for critical hydrological initiatives, and introducing advanced equipment for flood prediction and response. Recognizing the urgent need for innovative approaches to flood management, NIHSA explored the potential benefits of Foresight’s cutting-edge technologies, including data management and emergency response tools.

A notable highlight was the introduction of Foresight Systems' YAWA App, an emergency reporting and situational awareness tool designed to aid real-time response and monitoring of hydrological crises. Foresight Systems proposed a live demonstration of the app at NIHSA’s headquarters, showcasing its utility for enhancing on-the-ground responses in critical flood situations.

Both NIHSA and Foresight Systems shared a unified commitment to addressing Nigeria's hydrological challenges, stressing the importance of sustainable water resource management and the role of technological advancement in strengthening resilience against climate change and water-related hazards. Following the productive dialogue, NIHSA announced plans to send a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Foresight Systems for review, marking a formal step toward long-term collaboration.

This engagement reaffirms NIHSA’s dedication to expanding its operational capacity through strategic partnerships, furthering its mission to safeguard Nigeria’s water resources and protect communities from the devastating impacts of floods.