Who We Are

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) is a governmental Agency established under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. The Act for the establishment of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency was signed into law by the President on the 27th day of August, 2010.

What We Do

Like any typical Hydrological Service operating in line with the WMO guidelines, and in accordance with international best practice, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s primary function is to provide data/information on the location of water resources in time and space, their extent, dependability, quality and the possibilities of their utilization and control on a continuous basis.
Such information is provided through the following activities:
1. Assessment of Water Resources: This involves ascertaining the quantity, quality, distribution and developmental potentials of water resources and also the ability of the resources to meet immediate and future demands.
2. Providing information for planning, design and operation of water projects and other facilities or non-water projects consuming water.
3. Monitoring the impact of non-water sector activities on water resources.
4. Providing security for life and property against water related hazards such as floods and drought, through forecasting and related activities.
5. Providing information and management of trans-boundary water bodies.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) operates and maintains hydrological stations nation-wide for gauging of surface water points. In addition, it undertakes groundwater exploration and monitoring. The data collected is stored in robust database system, analyzed and processed for the purpose of mapping all the nation’s water deposits and also to provide the vital hydrological and hydrogeological data required for sustainable water resources budgeting for various purposes such as domestic, irrigation/agricultural development (for food security and poverty alleviation), hydroelectricity generation, industrialization, tourism and recreation among others.

Mandate

• To provide services required for assessment of the nation’s surface and groundwater resources in terms of quantity, quality, distribution and availability in time and space; for efficient and sustainable management of the resources.

• To operate and maintain hydrological stations nationwide and carryout groundwater exploration and monitoring using various scientific techniques in order to provide hydrological and hydrogeological data needed for planning, design, execution and management of water resources and allied projects.

Governing Board

The act for the establishment of the Agency provides for a Governing Board consisting of the following…
(a) A part-time Chairman
(b) One representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources
(c) Three other persons to represent public interest; and
(d) The Director-General of the Agency

The Chairman of the Board shall be a person from the private sector with vast cognate experience in the field of Hydrology and Water Resources Management.
The Director General is to oversee the day to day running of the Agency.
The Chairman and other members of the Board shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Water Resources.

Organisational Structure

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is the umbrella government organ under which all Water Resources activities at the Federal level, including Hydrological activities, operate.

Consequently, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources sits at the top of the organizational framework of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency as the apex authority from whom all other responsibilities emanate by statute.

There is a Governing Board under the Honourable Minister below which are the Director-General and Management, who see to the day-to-day running of the Agency.

There are six (6) Departments in the Agency, five (5) technical Departments and one (1) Department for general services. Each of the Departments operates under the leadership of a Director and the Departments are further sub-divided into Divisions and Units for effective discharge of their responsibilities. There are various Units such as Legal, Audit, Procurement, etc that function directly under the office of the Director-General.

History

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency was established by the NIHSA Act 2010 and signed into law by Mr. President on 27^th August, 2010. The Act is published in the Official Gazette of the Federal Government of Nigeria No. 100, Vol.97 of 31^st August, 2010.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) came into being as a result of the transformation of the former Department of Hydrology and Hydrogeology of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. The Agency was established to fill a yawning gap created by lack of an appropriate platform for provision of the vital hydrological data required for sustainable development.

It has the statutory responsibility for water resources assessment in terms of quantity, quality, occurrence and availability in time and space. This leads to generation of hydrological and hydrogeological parametric data needed for implementation of programs and execution of projects relating to water resources development such as construction of boreholes, dams, weirs, for water supply, irrigation, power generation, mining and agriculture. NIHSA is also charged with the responsibility to issue forecast on floods, droughts etc.