PRESENTATION OF FLOOD PREDICTION APP BY THE NIGERIA HYDROLOGICAL SERVICES AGENCY (NIHSA).
The Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Engr. Clement Nze (FNAH, FNAHS) on 20th January, 2021 led the Agency’s team to present NIHSA’s Flood Prediction App to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADM&SD) who is the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Development of a National/Multi-Sectorial Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
The Meeting was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) and had in attendance members from the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
It would be recalled that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was inaugurated by the Federal Government on the 12th October, 2020. The Committee is charged with the responsibility of reducing flood hazards by tackling the root cause of flood disasters in Nigeria, and to be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), under the supervision of the Honourable Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq. They are to ensure strategic disaster mitigation, prepa
redness and response plan, as well as manage the formulation and implementation of equity, focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria.
Basically, in tackling the root cause of flood disaster, and going beyond flood forecast, NIHSA came up with the Web Based Flood App that will be of great advantage for the Development of Flood disaster mitigation, preparedness and response plan. The Director General, NIHSA, Engr. Clement Nze, taking members through the Flood Prediction App, said, Flood is one of the Hydrological hazards, amongst others like drought, windstorm and mudslides. He made an extensive presentation by explaining that Rivers Niger and Benue are the major contributors to flood disaster in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Engr. Nze explained the models used for the flood prediction; the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Geospatial Stream Flow Model (Geo- SFM). He said amongst other efforts geared towards improving flood forecasting and management by the agency, is continued update of the Hydrological database, improved hydrological modeling system, publication of monthly flood and drought monitor and improved synergy among the relevant government Agencies to combat flood disaster. The DG noted that the Flood App will be effective for early warning sensitization, as well as improve communication between victims and responders, and enhance the performance of existing early warning systems.
The representative of the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Grema Ali who also is a Director, Humanitarian Affair, commended NIHSA’s team and recommended that the Agency includes inputs from relevant Agencies like NIMET so as to widen the scope of the flood App. He said, the Agency should draw up the objectives and benefits of the Flood App,
as well as the challenges. This is to be submitted to the committee for subsequent submission to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The Inter-ministerial committee consists of members, from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs
, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Nigeria Security Defense Corps, Nigeria Meteorological Agency and National Emergency Management Agency.
LAURETTA SAMUEL (MRS)
HEAD PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
28TH JANUARY, 2021
