Hydrological Services Agency needs support of National Assembly to function effectively – Hon. Agbodike

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By Ibraheem Hamza Muhammad, Abuja

The National Assembly will fully support the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, (NIHSA) for it to function efficiently.

Honourable Pascal Agbodike, Chairman of House Committee on Hydrology said during the budget defense at the National Assembly Complex on Monday.

According to him, “NIHSA needs the support of government and the citizens for it to function effectively, to control flood amongst other hydrological disasters.

“Flood has caused many menace and it is not a friend of anybody, because it wreaks havoc, destroys property and turn house owners to refugees,” he said.

Hon. Agbodike said NIHSA is supposed to study, forecast and warn against hydrological catastrophes and how to avoid ones that had occurred against further occurrences.

He said that the committee frowns at the meagre budget appropriation of 3,050,944,915:00 for 2025.

In his remarks, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed said NIHSA has regional and field offices across the country, but due to paufacity of fund, it cannot access take-off grant, hasn’t paid its rent for years, and wants to employ more personnel to support the 105 staff in its payroll.

The Director General said, NIHSA was established in 2010 and has been managing old vehicles that have been purchased since 2013.

Umar said NIHSA wants modern equipment to function, new vehicles for field work and for it to enhance consultancy to generate revenue.