INTRODUCTION:

The UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office (RSO) in Nigeria is domicile in the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The RSO in Nigeria was established in 2008 with the mandate to promote and support the use of space technology within and outside Nigeria for the management of the full disaster cycle including prevention and mitigation. This mandate is implemented in conjunction with the UN-SPIDER coordinating office in Vienna through the following strategies:

• The UN-SPIDER as a Link between Spatial Data providers and disaster management communities. This strategy is being implemented by identifying space-based data providers as well as the disaster management stakeholders; and creating a mechanism for linking the two groups. This is critical in order to cope with disasters in a fast and highly coordinated manner. 

• The UN-SPIDER as a Gateway to Space-based dataset for disaster management. The RSO is implementing the gateway strategy by developing a data portal for space-based data. Such a portal will include satellite imageries (raw and processed) and Geographic Information System based data with relevance to disaster management.

• The UN-SPIDER support for capacity development and institutional strengthening. In recognition of the role of capacity development in the application of space-based data for disaster management, the RSO is actively involved in identifying sources for capacity development. In addition, a digital image processing laboratory is currently being developed at the National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja. Once the laboratory is completed, it will serve as a resource center for capacity development in satellite image processing, analysis, and application to disaster management.