The Executive Director, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), Dr Abdulmumini Aminu Zaria has said that NIWRMC collaborating with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is essential for advancing key national priorities of water management in areas of climate resilience, reducing disaster risk and ensuring water and food security.
He made this disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Mathew Olumide Adepoju in Abuja.
The Executive Director remarked that “NIWRMC and NASRDA are pivotal in addressing various challenges related to water management and resource sustainability of water regulations, catchment management and the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) strategies.”
While speaking, Dr Aminu-Zaria explained that “by sharing data and insights, these agencies can create more informed policies that take into account the multifaceted interactions between water resources, climate change and food production systems.”
Dr Aminu-Zaria stated that “utilizing satellite imagery to monitor changes in land use and water bodies can help in predicting droughts or flooding, thereby enabling proactive measures to mitigate their impacts.”
He noted that working together with NASRDA will “contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for the country, ensuring that the needs of communities and the environment are met in a balanced and effective manner.”
The Executive Director added that NIWRMC will need the expertise of NASRDA which “focuses on leveraging satellite data, remote sensing technologies and geospatial information systems to monitor environmental changes, assess water resources and support decision making processes.”
“Aligning NASRDA’s data services with NIWRMC’s regulatory needs will enhance the integration of NASRDA’s data services to ensure they effectively support the regulatory framework set forth by the National Inter-Agency Water Resources Management Committee. This alignment will involve assessing the specific data requirements of the NIWRMC and adapting NASRDA’s data collection and analysis methodologies to ensure compliance and facilitate better decision making in water resources management”, he said.
In his response, the Director General, NASRDA, Dr. Adepoju said NASRDA will avail its resources and personnel to support NIWRMC’s mandate of ensuring effective water management which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Signed
Fatimah Yusuf
Head (Press & PR)
25/9/2025
