By Mohammed Bello Doka
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to proactive flood management as he joined key stakeholders at the Anticipatory Action Task Force on Floods (AATF) meeting, presided over by the Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima.
The high-level meeting, held to address Nigeria’s perennial flooding challenges, focused on shifting the country’s flood response from reactive emergency interventions to proactive preparedness. This aligns with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, all of which emphasize early warning systems and anticipatory action to mitigate disaster risks.
Vice President Shettima, in his remarks, underscored the need for urgent and science-driven flood management, highlighting the severe human and economic losses caused by recurrent flooding in Nigeria.
“We must take decisive action now, utilizing science, technology, and collaboration to safeguard lives and livelihoods. Waiting for disasters to occur before responding is no longer an option,” he stated.
The meeting provided an opportunity for agencies to present updates on their preparedness strategies and ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of flooding across the country. NIHSA, as the country’s foremost hydrological agency, plays a pivotal role in this initiative by providing critical flood prediction and risk assessment data.
Addressing the gathering, NIHSA DG/CEO Umar Ibrahim Mohammed commended Vice President Shettima’s leadership in fostering anticipatory action and reiterated the agency’s dedication to strengthening hydrological forecasting for effective early warning and risk reduction.
“NIHSA plays a critical role in flood prediction and risk assessment. Our hydrological models and monitoring systems provide vital data that support early warning and proactive decision-making,” he noted.
He further disclosed that the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) will be officially launched on April 10, 2025, serving as a crucial tool in guiding national flood preparedness strategies. Additionally, he announced a groundbreaking initiative—the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)—which NIHSA is developing in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This initiative aims to accelerate disaster risk recovery and provide emergency relief support for flood-prone communities across Nigeria.
The NIHSA DG/CEO reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to working closely with government institutions, local communities, and international partners to enhance flood preparedness and response, ensuring a more resilient Nigeria in the face of climate-related challenges.