
Mr Umar Mohammed, the Director-General of NIHSA, made this request during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mohammed said that such collaboration was essential given Nigeria’s challenges with flooding, water scarcity and the need for sustainable water management practices.
He said that NIHSA was responsible for providing information on the status and trends of the nation’s water resources.
Mohammed said that NIHSA’s mandate included data on the location of the water resources, extent, dependability, quality and the potential for utilisation and control.
“This requires us to continuously provide reliable and high-quality hydrological and hydrogeological data.
“Water is life but our rivers and lakes can turn from benevolent to destructive in a heartbeat.
“We must educate our citizens on how to protect themselves and manage our water resources responsibly,” he said.
He stressed on the importance of working with NAN to fulfill NIHSA’s responsibilities and to raise public awareness in order to mitigate the impact of flooding.
In his response, Ali congratulated the director-general of NIHSA on his appointment and expressed NAN’s readiness to partner with NIHSA.
He reiterated NAN’s commitment to disseminating crucial information to the public.
“As the country’s leading news agency, we recognise our role in shaping narratives and informing citizens.”
Ali highlighted NAN’s extensive reach, noting that the agency had offices in several African countries, including South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and Addis Ababa.
The managing director also pointed out that NAN was one of only three resident news agencies in the United Nations’ building in New York.
“Together with NIHSA, we will foster a culture of awareness that empowers communities to engage in water recycling and take proactive measures against flooding.’’
He said that NAN had begun disseminating information in local languages.
“We have a website for news in Hausa and before the year ends, we will expand to include Yoruba and Igbo; with other languages to follow gradually,” he said. (NAN)