Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN
NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTION
A.W. Salami, A.O. Aremu and K.A. Abdulraheem
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria
salami_wahab@unilorin.edu.ng
1.0 INTRODUCTION
According to a Greek philosopher, the best of all things is water (Stewart, 2008). This view is not
surprising since the need for water, throughout human history, has always been appreciated.
Water is constantly in motion, passing from one state to another and from one location to another
(Biswas, 2008). Whether the water is in motion, or stationary, it invariably contains extraneous
materials, some due to natural causes but others because of human activities. All these, plus
natural variations in water availability, makes its rational planning and management a very
complex and difficult task under the best of circumstances. Water may be everywhere, but its use
has always been dictated by its availability in terms of quantity and quality (James et al, 2003).
Water resources management problems of this region are neither homogenous, nor constant or
consistent overtime. They vary from one region to another, sometimes even within a single state,
from one season to another, and also from one year to another. Solutions to water resources
management problems depend not only on water availability, but also on many other factors,
among which are the processes through which water is managed, competence and capacities of
the institutions that manage them, prevailing socio-political conditions and expectations which
affect water planning, development and management processes and practices, appropriateness
and implementation status of the legal and regulatory frameworks, availability of investment
funds as needed, climatic, social and environmental conditions, levels of available and usable
technology, national, regional and international attitudes and perceptions, modes of governance
including issues like political interference, transparency, corruption, etc., educational and
development conditions; and quality, effectiveness and relevance of research that are being
conducted to solve the national, sub-national and local water resources management problems
(Oyebande, 2006).
Water Resources Management is of direct interest to the society as a whole, as well as to most
development related public institutions at central, state and municipal levels, academia, private
sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (Okeke and Uzoh 2009). Such widespread
interest in water is not a unique situation, as many water professionals have often claimed: it is
equally applicable to other important sectors like food, energy, the environment, health,
communication or transportation(Akpor and Muchie, 2011). All these issues command high
levels of social and political attention in all modern societies, although their relative importance
may vary from one state to another, and also overtime. In an increasingly interrelated and
complex world, many issues are of high interest for assuring good quality of life of the people
(Velayutham, 1999).
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
2.0 WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Apparently, it seems that there is no water problem in the region because the availability seems
higher than the present use. Also, the location of various rivers potentially spatially benefits all
sections of the states in the region. However, studies have noted some problems using the water
resources from these apparent sufficient sources. For instance, Nigeria is classified a water–short
country, whose water resource is likely to reduce from 2,506 cubic meters per year in 1995 to
1,175 in 2025, if not properly managed (UN Water Report, 2012). By 2025, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), estimated that about 1.8 billion people will be living in regions
with absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world’s population could be under water ‘stress’
conditions. Current world population is about 7 billion people, with the potential of rising to 9
billion in the next 40 years (UN Water Report, 2012). From Table 1, the annual growth rate of
north central region is estimated as 3.25%, while other factors like the area, potential
surface/ground water resources annual yield remain constant. The implication of this is that there
will be a further pressure on available water resources leading to increase in high global demand
for food, etc in the zone. Last year’s flood experience which sub-merged some communities in
over 20 states across the federation once more called to remind the need for adequate measures
and exigency of a structured plan that would serve as comprehensive guide in water resources
management in the country. The present water management structure in the country is also likely
to create unnecessary rivalry between the authorities on the one hand, and the various state water
corporations or boards on the other. According to the United Nations, water holds the key to
achieving the goals of reducing poverty and hunger by 50 per cent by 2015,water can make great
difference to the region’s development if it is managed well and used wisely. The zone comprise
of six states which are Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT Abuja.
Table 1: Information on the North Central Zones of Nigeria.
S/N Description Parameter
3 2
1. Area (10 km ) 158.1
2. Potential Surface Water Resources (Annual Yield) (109 m3) 32.60
3. Potential Groundwater Resources (Annual Yield) 109 m3) 8.18
9 3
4. Total Potential Water Resources (Annual Yield) (10 m ) 40.78
5. 1991 Population (106) 10.5
2
6. 1991 Population Density (per km ) 66
7. 1991 Per capita surface water availability/annum (m3) 3,105
8. 2006 Population (106) 17.1
9. 2006 Population Density (per km) 108
3
10. 2006 Per capita surface water availability/annum (m ) 1906
11. 2030 Population Projection (106) 37.30
12. 2030 projection of population Density (per km6) 236
13. 2030 Per capita surface water availability/annum (m3) 874
14. Annual Growth Rate (%) (1991/2006) 3.25
Source: Oyebande, L. (2011). Overview of Water Sector Development in Nigeria.
2.1 The Policy Framework and Existing Institution in the Region
The states in this region have enormous quantity of water resources, surface and
underground water, that requires a well-articulated administrative structure that can manage
the resources effectively. The present position of management of water resources in the area is
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
grossly inadequate (Nwankwoala, 2011). The Federal, States and Local Governments have
over the years been intervening from time to time in terms of the provision of potable
water to the people. Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF),
River Basin Authorities, DFRRI, National Water Supply Rehabilitation Project, National
Borehole Programme and of course, the present government‘s Legislative Boreholes are major
players in this sector.
Under the directive of National Council on Water Resources for the establishment of the
National Water Resources Capacity Building Network (NWRCBNet) in 2006, a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) was signed 2010 between the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna
and the University of Ilorin, Ilorin for the establishment of National Water Resources Capacity
Building Network for North Central (NWRCBNet-NC) Nigeria, being the present network in the
zone charged with the responsibility of coordinating capacity development in the water sector
through education, training, research and information dissemination in six (6) states of North
Central Nigeria and FCT Abuja. This concept re-emphasizes that water cannot be dealt with in
isolation, but requires a high degree of collaboration and engagement between the ministry
responsible for water resources and the ministries responsible for driving social and economic
development, such as ministries of infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and trade. The
Capacity Building Network shows that there is a consistent interest from education institutions in
responding to concerns about sustainable water resources management. Their interest is
translated through developing education programmes, changing curricula and developing
research activities on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). However there is still
work to be done. The demand for water managers emerging from these programmes is still weak,
probably reflecting the slow pace of change on the ground.
3.0 CHALLENGES
The main challenges facing development and management of water resources in north central
Nigeria are further analyzed below;
3.1 Climate variability: increasing evidence of variability in earth’s climate has prompted
concern and controversy. The need to cope with existing variability and to adapt and build
resilience brings significant implications for water resources availability and reliability
associated with the greater likelihood of extreme events. There is mounting evidence of trends in
hydrological series. Many areas face a drying and warming climate and thus potentially less
water availability. Notwithstanding, last year’s flood experience which sub-merged some
communities in some states once more called to remind the need for adequate measures and
exigency of a structured plan that would serve as comprehensive guide in water resources
management in the country and north central region in particular.
3.2 Growing urban demand: Pressure of rapid population growth as well as poor
management, the available resources of water are being depleted at a faster rate and the situation
seriously underlines the need for taking up integrated plans for water conservation and utilization
for every agro-ecological area to meet the increasing demands of irrigation, water harvesting,
human and livestock consumption, expanding industry, hydro-electric power generation,
recreation, navigation and other uses. Demand for water has increased dramatically resulting
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
from, inter alia,increased wealth and increased demand for food and energy generation.
3.3 Lack of basic planning data: A major constraint to water resources development and
management in the zone is lack of basic planning data. The role of data collection has
regrettably either been underplayed or ignored. “It is therefore always very difficult to assemble
reliable and adequate technical and socio-economic data capable of assisting in the assessment,
planning, design, construction and maintenance of various development projects”. Many projects
have therefore failed because of the unreliable and inadequate data on which analysis planning,
development and management were based.
3.4 Allocation of water resources: the water in many supply systems has been allocated on
the basis of past availability or existing demand and has not been kept in line with current or
future availability; thus, many systems are over-allocated. Also, c In many states, a sizeable
population is not served by pipe borne water. Most of the populations in this zone do not have
access to portable pipe borne water; most families collect water from unsafe sources, such as
rainfalls, ponds, streams and rivers for domestic use, and most of this sources are contaminated,
thus leading to death of thousands due to water borne diseases. Lack of equitable access to
potable water and sanitation, particularly in rural areas leads to greater time and effort spent on
water collection by vulnerable groups including women, the poor, the aged, and children.
3.5 Economic turmoil: Following a sustained period of growth, the economic and financial
crises are undermining the integrity and stability of financial institutions, slowing down
development and reversing gains in poverty reduction. This also creates challenges.
3.6 Unrestricted extractions: in many areas, there are no management plans or restrictions
on water extractions (for example, pumping from rivers and groundwater extractions). These
have resulted in less water being available. The expansion of farm dams in some areas also
reduces the supply of water entering river systems, the indiscriminate springing up of boreholes
across the various communities, states of the zones and even the unruly attitude of people toward
building in water ways, require pre cautionary measures that would prevent future flooding.
3.7 Land-use change: clear-felling, expanding plantations and the opening of new areasto
agriculture, all have impacts on the water resource. Some event, such as bushfires, leads to a
reduction in the available water and water-quality problems. Changes to land use, even within
agricultural areas and industrial area, have implications on both water availability and water use.
3.8 Environmental requirements: there has been an increasing emphasis on the
requirement for environmental flows to maintain ecosystems such as wetland and in-stream
environments. Community expectations are to see the environment as a rightful and high-priority
user of water.
3.9 Funds: The challenge confronting the water sector in the area lies in meeting the
staggering financing and capital investment required to increase the management of water
resources. Unsustainable funding schemes for the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure
and services, and hence a concentration on delivery with limited attention to issues of
sustainability. Insufficient financial resources to meet investment demand for infrastructural
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
development, inadequate cost recovery to recover the full costs of water supply services. Most
governments hide behind the excuse of lack of money, in water resource management, the real
problem is how the money is being spent and the competence of person’s in-charge in spending
such funds.
3.10 Unfinished Projects: Checks revealed that abandoned and uncompleted projects abound
in the Ministry of water resources and other water development and management agencies.
3.11 Water resources maintenance: Overuse of water resources, primarily for agriculture,
and diffuse contamination of freshwater from urban regions and from agriculture are stressing
the water resources in the terrestrial water cycle. As a consequence, the ecological functions of
water bodies, soils and groundwater (e.g. filtration, natural decomposition of pollutants, buffer
capacity) in the water cycle are hampered. Most of its infrastructures is rarely maintained, for
example pipe bursts and pipes in filthy drains are commonly found in almost all the areas of the
zone, this leads to poor management of water resources.
3.12 Inadequate institutional capacity-building:Insufficient institutional capacity and
cooperation to operationalize the concepts of sustainable water resources management and also
lack of policy to promote the conservation of water contributed to challenges of water resources
development and management.
3.13 Insufficient technology: transfer from innovators to practitioners, limited application of
appropriate technologies, information and knowledge to support decision-making and
implementation.
3.14 Sectoral management: each sector (domestic use, agriculture, industry, environmental
protection, etc.) has been managed separately, with limited coordination between them. This led
to fragmented and uncoordinated development of water resources. Water is by nature a flowing
resource, which crosses sector boundaries. Many uses of water have spillover effects on other
uses, and water development projects have unintended social and environmental consequences.
This is especially true for river basins where upstream water and land practices impact directly
the quantity and quality of water in downstream areas. As water becomes scarcer, it is becoming
increasingly inefficient to manage water without recognizing the interdependencies between
agencies, jurisdictions, sectors and geographical areas. Each agency has been made responsible
foronly a limited aspect of water resources development and management. In addition, agencies
in each subsector have largely independent strategies and programmes for resource development
and operations. This has often created confusion, resulting in uncoordinated efforts in
administering regulatory policies and site-specific issues in water resources management.
Conflicts of interest in the utilization of water and overlapping of development activities
are becoming more and more apparent.
3.15 Non-viable and Unplanned Schemes: Schemes (e.g., water supply schemes) which do
not have assured water in the source, or which do not have favourable cost benefit ratios, are
sometime taken up for implementation purely for political considerations. Sometimes, schemes
are announced by politicians and even foundations stones are laid, but there has been no
exploration or thinking about the scheme by competent authorities about its feasibility and
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
relevant departmental (e.g., environmental) clearances. Due to political compulsions, officials
are often forced to implement the scheme – leading to further problems or incompletion, and
hence, to a wastage of valuable water resources.
3.16 Undue political interference: Several politicians harass officials for a ‘cut’ of the funds
allocated for development of large government projects (e.g., irrigation), and derail planned work
and/or victimise government officials (e.g., with punitive transfers) if their demands are not
accommodated.
3.17 Long delay in implementing planned water resources projects: A combination of a
lack of sufficient fund allocation (despite a higher agreed budget) and political conflicts over
waterrights and allocations have caused a large number of sanctioned irrigation projects to
proceed slowly and hence overshoot their estimated costs due to inflation. This has led not only
to continued hardship to the expected beneficiaries (and the frustration due to unfulfilled
expectations), but also to a lack of belief in governmental and political promises.
3.18 Low quality constructions: Institutionalized corruption (where contractors, for instance,
pay bribes to get contracts) has led to poor quality construction as these contractors try to reduce
the quality of construction (e.g., in using less than required cement in concrete or sub-standard
materials) to make up their profit margins. This leads to dangerous construction, and collapsing
water resources’ structures.
3.19 Institutionalized Corruption: While there are established systems (of percentages) of
corruption in sanctioned projects, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats inflate costs of new
proposals as well. Upright bureaucrats, who protest these systems or take strict action against
corrupt officials or politicians, are victimized – often with allegations of corruption!.
3.20 Contractor cartels to counter tendering: Even the standard government practice of
calling for sealed tenders for large-scale government construction projects, to counter the
problem of favoritism and over-invoicing, is being countered by cartels of contractors who agree
on a minimum bid. The contractor who gets the bid either shares the proceeds with the others, or
shares the benefit by awarding sub-contracts. The awardee will also have to share the proceeds
with local politicians and government officials.
3.21 Non-availability of good NGOs: Although there are good NGOs who have the
competence and experience to do community level mobilization and encourage people’s
participation, there are several NGOs who are given charge of doing similar work, but do not
have the required competence to carry out their stipulated functions. The consequence is a lack
of adequate community involvement on the ground (as opposed to on paper), in schemes where
people’s participation is stipulated (e.g., in watershed management, irrigation management,
forest management, etc.
3.22 Water quality issues: Water is a vast network of branching rivers, springs, creeks,
swamps, estuaries, wetlands, lakes, bays, etc. Each water body can contain dramatically different
levels of pollution. Water quality issues influence human and environmental health. Measuring
base-level pollution in existing water bodies in different watersheds in the state to identify areas
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
North Central Regional Centre (NWRCBNet-NC) University of Ilorin. 3rd and 4th December, 2013.
where new water-using industries (both as a source and a sink) can be located is rarely done or
water quality is not monitored.
4.0 SOLUTIONS
Having identified some of the challenges in water development and management in the zone,
possible solution to overcome the challenges are presented as follows;
4.1 The need to improve coordination within government: Although a significant amount
of literature exists on laws, policies, and rules and regulations governing the provision of water
supply services to the citizens of each state, there is a great need for clarity on roles and
responsibilities within government institutions. Better coordination is needed both within
government structures, and in the way in which government bodies interact with local
communities for provision of water services. Greater coordination and streamlining within
government departments needs to go beyond official statements affirming commitment to
coordination, to implementing the changes required in the rules, regulations and procedures
critical to effective coordination.
4.2 The need to build capacity at all levels: Capacity building is vital at different levels
within government institutions, as also within local communities, in order to improve the
provision and maintenance of water resources services. These capacities do not only relate (as is
commonly understood) to technical issues, but more importantly to a range of social, managerial
and institutional issues from organizing effective community participation, building solidarity,
vision and a sense of purpose within communities, and starting and running efficient community-
based organizations to dealing with government procedures and legal requirements and conflict
resolution.
4.3 The need for effective involvement of local communities: Even after capacities have
been enhanced, there is a need to develop institutional space and mechanisms for governments
and local communities to interact effectively. Official consultations with local communities need
to be judicious in choosing between full participation and participation by representation, using
existing democratic institutions. Explicit mechanisms have to be drafted into government rules
and regulations, explained to concerned officials, and ‘back-stopped’ by a capable body till it
becomes accepted practice.
4.4 The need for good quality information for decision-making: Participation in
decision-making is a means to an end, and the goal of informed decision-making requires good-
quality information on a range of issues, technical, social, economic, legal and institutional.
5.0 CONCLUSION
Water is one of the most basic human needs. With impacts on agriculture, education, energy,
health, gender equity, and livelihood, water management underlies the most basic development
challenges. Water is under unprecedented pressures as growing populations and economies
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Proceedings of the 1st Regional Workshop organized by National Water Capacity Building Network,
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demand more of it. Practically every development challenge of the 21 st century – food security,
managing rapid urbanization, energy security, environmental protection, adapting to climate
change – requires urgent attention to water resources management. Despite well-intentioned
policy documents, management of water resources remains a problem for the north central zones
in Nigeria. However, the usual call for ‘policy makers’ to listen and draft new policies, is not
very effective. There is a need for a thorough re-examination of existing procedures and norms
of government and NGO functioning, following a clear understanding of the linkages, roles and
responsibilities of the various institutions engaged in providing water supply services, especially
to rural communities. Population growth, development, and climate change are creating growing
challenges for the management of water resources on which the zone’s families, businesses,
farms, industry and natural heritage rely. In many areas of the zones, rising demand for water are
forcing communities, stakeholders, and governments to explore new ideas and find new
solutions that will help ensure stable, secure water supplies for future generations. Just as the
country is blessed with oil resources, it also has seemingly abundant water resources that are not
being efficiently utilized. To provide fully effective water management, the capability to
understand and predict the movement and availability of water within all components of the
hydrological cycle and to be able to simulate the impacts of various landscape changes on the
distribution and availability of water is essential. Effective water resources development and
management must be underpinned by knowledge and understanding of the availability of the
resource itself, the uses to which water is put and the challenges facing the managers at all levels
of government.
Besides delivering the goods practically, deliberate effort should be made to see that water
resources issues are adequately addressed in climate policy formulations, Agro-allied matters and
Hydro-electric power generation. Likewise, climate change problems should be adequately dealt
with in water resources analyses, management and policy formulation at all levels.
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