The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has expressed wiliness to collaborate with AGRHYMET (Agriculture, Hydrology and Meteorology) Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS), for enhanced hydrological data management and climate services in the country.
AGRHYMET, a specialized institution with permanent Insterstates Committee for drought control in the Sahel, is based in Niamey, Niger Republic.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the commitment on Monday, when he received a delegation from AGRHYMET, led by its Acting Director General, Dr. Baoua Issoufou in his office in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev, in a statement by the Director Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has mandated the Ministry to drive critical priorities in the water sector, including irrigated agriculture, water supply, food security, flood control, and climate change mitigation.
He emphasized the crucial role of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in flood prevention and the publication of the Annual Flood Outlook, while also acknowledging the Nigeria Water Resources Institute (NWRI) for its contributions to training and research in climate and water resources, areas that align strongly with AGRHYMET’s operations.
The Minister further highlighted the efforts of the River Basin Development Authorities in boosting food production nationwide, stressing that collaboration with AGRHYMET will enhance the nation’s capacity to tackle climate risks, improve hydrological monitoring, and strengthen early warning systems.
He therefore directed that all necessary documents be finalized to enable the prompt signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and AGRHYMET.
Earlier in his remarks, AGRHYMET team leader, Dr. Baoua Issoufou, explained that the aim of the partnership is to reinforce the climate services value chain across Sahelian and West African countries by promoting climate-related information, hydrological data sharing, and capacity building.
Supporting this viewpoint, Prof. Manzur Bako Matazu, ECOWAS representative and Technical Assistant to AGRHYMET, said the committee focuses on training, research, hydrology, agriculture, food security, and natural resource management.
He underscored the importance of regional digital data banks, improved climate adaptation measures, and enhanced technical support to national hydrological institutions. He commended NIHSA for its effective implementation of the Annual Flood Outlook, noting its importance in regional preparedness.
Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Emanso Umobong; the Director General of NIHSA, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed; top management staff of the Ministry; and senior officials of the Agency.
The Committee comprises of representatives from AGRHYMET, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and ECOWAS.
