The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the WetIn App – an Android app that forecasts floods along the two key rivers in Nigeria – the Rivers Niger and Benue.
Launched in the capital city – Abuja, the WetIn App is available on the Google Play store as a free download and is a joint project by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
According to the Play Store, the IWMI WetIn app allows users monitor rivers and streams in the Niger-Benue river systems in Nigeria. The application provides 5-day river height forecasts at 4-5 stations using upstream-downstream forecast rating techniques from space-borne radar altimetry and hydraulic modeling. It also provides a graphical view of river water levels, historical information on flooding and the projected impact of climate change on water levels.
In his remark on the launch, the Regional Director for Africa at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Professor Timothy Olalekan Williams, said the application was developed using data from the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and satellite data.
Commenting on the new idea, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Shehu Ahmed said Nigeria sought the help of the international agency to develop the application following the devastating flood of 2012 which led to huge destruction of farms, houses and human lives.
He said Nigeria is turning that bitter experience into a blessing by looking at various ways farmers and government could take advantage of the technology.
