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Environment · Nigeria

Obtain a borehole / water-use permit (NIWRMC)

License commercial-scale water abstraction/borehole drilling under the Water Resources Act: confirm a permit is needed → engage an accredited driller → apply to NIWRMC/state water agency → permit.

4
steps
4
agencies involved
Who you will deal with
Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC)Accredited driller (AWDROP/BODAN)NIWRMC / State water agencyNIWRMC
The steps
  1. 1Confirm whether a permit is required
    Agency
    Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC)
    What is required
    Domestic use of water/boreholes on one's own land is exempt (no charge). Commercial-scale abstraction, boreholes or hydraulic works require a licence under the Water Resources Act.
    Documents
    Intended use (domestic vs commercial); land right
    Typical timeline
    Assessment
  2. 2Engage an accredited driller and survey
    Agency
    Accredited driller (AWDROP/BODAN)
    What is required
    Engage a registered water-well driller (AWDROP/BODAN) and conduct a hydro-geological survey of the site.
    Documents
    Accredited driller; hydro-geological survey
    Typical timeline
    Pre-application
  3. 3Apply to NIWRMC / state water agency
    Agency
    NIWRMC / State water agency
    What is required
    Apply for the water-use/drilling licence with site and technical details; some states impose additional approvals.
    Documents
    Application; site & technical details
    Typical timeline
    Application stage
  4. 4Permit issued and compliance
    Agency
    NIWRMC
    What is required
    The licence is granted with conditions; abstraction is monitored for compliance.
    Documents
    Complete application
    Typical timeline
    On approval

Primary source: https://niwrmc.gov.ng/ · confidence: high

Also in environment
Obtain a waste-management (NESREA) permitObtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate

The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

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