The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has solicited support from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet) in the execution of a multinational project that would be beneficial to the nation.
NiMet in a statement on Saturday said, the request came when a Senior Researcher from the Institute, Dr. Sander Zwart and his team visited the agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Zwart in the statement said, they were about to embark on a huge project called CLiM O.
“We have this project coming up , it is called the CLiM O. It is led by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The goal is to assist member states of the Niger Basin Authority to be more climate resilient and of course Nigeria is part of the Niger Basin”, he asserted..
He explained that based on the information obtained online as well as consultations they discovered that flood and drought are major challenges, especially after last year’s flood.
He said, this led them to develop activities that would ensure people are better prepared for flood now and in the future.
To achieve this, he revealed that there were four components they have proposed for the project and that as their institution would drive the project, they were keen to have NiMet’s input.
Zwart listed these components to include: Hydrological modeling; Flood forecasting; Data sharing and Underground actions that involves how people can adapt themselves to flood.
In his response, the Director, Weather Forecasting Services, Engr. Mailadi Yusuf, who represented the Director General, assured the visitors, of NiMet’s support, adding that NiMet was in close collaboration with Federal and State Ministries of Water Resources where the lead sister Agency that develops the Annual Flood Outlook (NiHSA) for the country was resident.
He disclosed that apart from predicting water availability for farming activities (Onset of rain, duration and amount expected ) NiMet would soon engage water users across the country on dry season (irrigation) farming activities by delivering and training them on the use of the Seasonal Climate Prediction for optimal harvest outputs.
The CLIM O project, when fully implemented would support the member states of the Niger Basin Authority in strengthening transboundary governance of water resources, adaptation,and mitigation of the impact of climate change.
The IWMI would lead the design and implementation of the project in the Benue River Basin.
