The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has requested the support of the Niger Basin Authority to strengthen hydrological activities in Nigeria and ensure the effective management of the transboundary Niger River Basin.

NIHSA director-general, Umar Mohammed, made this appeal in a statement during his visit to the NBA in Niamey, Niger Republic.

He emphasised the need for improved equipment and facilities for hydrological and hydrogeological monitoring in Nigeria’s portion of the basin.

He stressed the importance of functional monitoring installations to provide reliable data for basin planning, management, and development, highlighting Nigeria’s position downstream of the Niger River.

Mr Mohammed acknowledged the NBA’s interventions, strengthening NIHSA’s hydrological activities.

He called for continued support to enhance the agency’s capacity and expand satellite hydrology monitoring in Nigeria.

The acting executive secretary of the NBA, Didier Zinzou, welcomed Mr Mohammed and reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to the sustainable management and development of the Niger River Basin’s water resources.

He explained that the NBA, a regional basin organisation comprising nine member countries in West and Central Africa, oversees hydrological monitoring and infrastructure development within its member states.

Mr Zinzou stressed that effective hydrological monitoring is essential to achieving the NBA’s shared vision and water charter, which guide development efforts in the basin.

He reiterated the NBA’s ongoing support for hydrological activities in its member states, including Nigeria, in the collective interest of sustainable basin development.

Mr Zinzou thanked Mr Mohammed for his visit and assured him of the NBA’s commitment to improving hydrological monitoring across the basin.

He emphasised that all Niger Basin development programmes depend on accurate and robust hydrological and hydrogeological data.

The NBA is a regional cooperation body focused on developing the Niger Basin in areas such as water resources, agriculture, and energy. 

(NAN)