In a significant move towards enhancing water resources management and addressing climate change challenges, the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Martins Santos, at the Portuguese Embassy in Abuja. The meeting, centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation, explored several areas where both nations could work together to tackle Nigeria’s pressing water challenges.
During the visit, the Director General, accompanied by the Director of Hydrogeophysics at NIHSA, Stephen Jabo, presented a comprehensive overview of the agency's mandate and its critical role in managing Nigeria’s vast water resources. The discussion highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change, increasing water scarcity, and the urgent need for sustainable water management practices in the country.
Umar Ibrahim Mohammed emphasized the importance of forging strategic partnerships to bolster NIHSA’s efforts in addressing these challenges. He underscored the agency's interest in collaborating with Portugal in key areas, including capacity building for water management professionals, the provision of modern equipment for hydrological studies, and promoting good governance practices in the water management sector. Mohammed pointed out that leveraging international expertise and technological innovations is crucial for improving the operational efficiency of NIHSA and ensuring that Nigeria is better equipped to handle its water-related issues.
Ambassador Paulo Martins Santos responded positively, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about NIHSA’s work. He acknowledged the agency’s vital role in ensuring the sustainable management of Nigeria’s water resources, a critical task given the nation’s rapid population growth and the strain placed on its natural resources. Santos also noted that both Portugal and Nigeria share common challenges, particularly with regard to transboundary rivers, desertification, and the broader impacts of climate change.
Reflecting on the shared challenges, Ambassador Santos suggested several potential areas for collaboration between the two countries. These included agriculture, particularly in terms of sustainable irrigation practices; dam management, with a focus on improving water storage and flood control mechanisms; renewable energy, specifically through hydropower and other sustainable sources; and disaster reduction strategies, which could help mitigate the effects of flooding and droughts in vulnerable regions of Nigeria.
The Portuguese Ambassador assured the Director General that the discussions would be reported to Portugal’s relevant authorities, with an eye towards initiating concrete steps for cooperation. He emphasized that Portugal, having dealt with similar environmental challenges, was keen to explore ways to share its knowledge and resources with Nigeria to help tackle these pressing issues.
Both parties expressed a strong commitment to further dialogue, with plans to explore specific areas of cooperation in greater detail in the near future. The visit concluded on a positive note, with both the Director General and the Ambassador expressing optimism about the potential for collaboration that would benefit not only Nigeria and Portugal but also contribute to addressing the shared global challenges of water management and environmental sustainability.
This diplomatic engagement marks an important step in strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and Portugal, paving the way for collaborative efforts that could have lasting positive impacts on water resources management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development in both nations.
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