Water Resources Act.

Water Resources Act. Current Version

January 2022

This is an Act to promote the optimum planning, development and use of Nigeria’s water resources and other matters connected therewith. It vests the right to use and control all surface and groundwater and all water in any watercourse affecting more than one state, together with the banks and beds thereof, in the Federal Government (sect. 1). The purposes for this vesting are listed as the promotion of planning, development and use of Nigeria’s water resources; coordination of activities likely to influence the quality, quantity, use, distribution and management of water; the application of appropriate standards and techniques for use, protection, etc.; and technical assistance and rehabilitation for water supplies (sect. 1). Notwithstanding the vesting of water resources in the Federal Government, persons may take water for a variety of uses, including domestic uses, the watering of livestock, fishing and navigation, and the irrigation of land over which they have rights of occupancy (sect. 2). Section 4 gives the Secretary power to control the use or taking of groundwater by various means, including defining the places from where and means by which it can be abstracted; fixing of limits on amounts used; prohibiting the taking or use of water from particular sources to protect health etc.