By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) held a two day retreat in Abuja to deliberate on a team “Defining and Roadmapping the Operations of the Agency in the next four Years”
The meeting was aimed at viewing 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.
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.
The highlights of the brainstorming session were, "The number of dams in Nigeria, their functionality and the possibility of introducing lock dams to harvest flood waters as flood control strategies"
They highlighted 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 desalination 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 team discussed the possibility of recharging Lake Chad 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.
Additionally to enhance the capacity of NIHSA in synergy with relevant organizations local and international to encourage research for optimization of water resources in Nigeria.
They urged that follow-up 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
The Meeting was in attendance of members from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWR&S), National Water Resources Institute (NWRI),Prof. I. L. Bashir Consultancy and Educational Services from FIFABS Consultancy and the host, Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed Director General from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
