The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, has lauded the work done by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and its diligence and consistency in improving the production of the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO).

In a statement released yesterday, said the Minister made the commendation during a one-day working visit to the agency. He also commended previous government for recognising the necessity to establish the Agency, saying, it played a key role in the nation’s socio-economic growth by providing early warning information on the country’s flood scenario.

Adamu stressed the need for continuous synergy between the Agency and the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA’s). With the theme of this year’s World Water Day Celebration, ‘Making the Invisible, Visible,’ the Hon. Minister urged NIHSA to make a concerted effort to map out what is happening in groundwater resources in the country, taking into account its exploitation.

According to him, the Agency should gather data and develop a rigorous Ground Water Resources Management Programme. He advised the Agency to continue working with sister agencies to be professional and thorough in their job, and to give solutions to some of NIHSA’s challenges, adding that the Agency is the nerve centre of Water Resources.

The Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Engr. Clement Nze, earlier in a statement at the meeting, described the Minister’s working visit as being historic.

The DG, while noting that the Hon. Minister is acquainted with the Agency’s activities, he also stated that 74 numbers of GroundWater Monitoring Boreholes has been drilled, with 33 number of Sutron Meteosat Data Collection Platforms (DCPs), 36 number, Telemetry DCP Stations under the intervention of TRIMMING Project, 18 number, Automatic Weather Observation Systems (AWOS), including three from NEMA, have also been established.

He further informed that 273 number Manual Staff Guage Stations, has been established, while 10 series of Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) has been published and launched, with seven editions under the supervision of the HM.

All of these amongst others, the DG noted are some of the Agency’s achievements under the able leadership of the Hon. Minister. Lauretta Samuel (Mrs.) in a statement said other highlights of the meeting were discussions, questions and inputs from the Management Staff of NIHSA present at the occasion.