Despite having abundant water resources, Nigeria is facing a serious challenge in improving access to this resource due to the rapidly increasing demand driven by high population growth, urbanization, and rising living standards resulting from economic growth. This demand surge is causing water shortages in both urban and rural areas, with competing water uses, lower levels of irrigation potential, degrading watersheds and water courses, fragmented and uncoordinated water resources development, poor data, and lack of cooperation on co-riparian use of international waters.
Inadequate catchment management and widespread pollution are also compounding the problem. Limited groundwater availability in areas underlain by crystalline rocks, coupled with heavy and uncontrolled groundwater exploitation in more productive sedimentary areas, is adding to the challenge. Poor watershed management, deteriorating water quality, drought, desertification, and increasing water scarcity are also inexorably increasing water scarcity.
The lack of adequate management and coordination of the nation’s water resources has resulted in numerous threats to its water sources. Federal and state governments are now being called upon to assume greater responsibility for overall management, but stakeholders are often not consulted or involved in planning, development, and management of the nation’s water resources. This results in unreliable projects that do not meet consumer needs and are financially burdensome to both the federal and state governments, which already have a diminishing revenue base.
Moreover, the absence of financial discipline and accountability for performance, along with political interference in decisions about allocations and pricing, are causing a litany of problems such as inefficient operations, inadequate maintenance, financial losses, and unreliable service delivery. As a result, highly subsidized water use is prevalent in irrigation, industry, and domestic use for the wealthy, exacerbating the financial burden on the government.
Water-related diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and guinea worm, are also major causes of morbidity and mortality, posing serious threats to public health. Scarcity threatens urban and rural developments with rapidly rising water supply costs, reduced reliability of water supplies, prolonged droughts, floods, and erosion, as well as increased costs of irrigated food production.
To address these issues, Nigeria must improve catchment management and reduce pollution. Additionally, it must increase water resource development and management efforts, including investing in water infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs. The government must also improve data collection and analysis to better understand the water resource system and coordinate water resource management efforts with all stakeholders. In addition, there is a need to prioritize investment in sustainable water supply and sanitation systems for the urban and rural poor, with an emphasis on affordable, efficient, and reliable services. This investment will require a significant amount of funding, which can be achieved through external financing or through innovative financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships.
Dams play a vital role in meeting the water needs of communities, irrigation, and hydropower generation. However, it is crucial to optimize the benefits of dams while minimizing their adverse impacts on the environment and society. Therefore, we recommend implementing the following strategies to optimize the benefits of dams:
Firstly, proper operation and management of dams and reservoirs must be ensured in accordance with operational manuals and engineering standards. This will prevent accidents and ensure that dams and reservoirs function optimally.
Secondly, the construction of small and medium dams should be carried out according to guidelines provided in the National Water Resources Master Plan. This will help to optimize water distribution and supply, reduce water loss, and improve water quality.
Thirdly, studies should be conducted to investigate possibilities of interbasin water transfer schemes from areas of surplus to areas of need. This will help to redistribute water resources to areas that need it the most.
Fourthly, existing reservoirs should be improved, and a reservoir operation policy should be formulated for existing dams in line with the National Water Resources Master Plan. This will improve the efficiency of water storage and ensure that water is released in a controlled manner to avoid flooding.
Fifthly, dam owners and potential developers should be required to prepare dam safety monitoring plans and implement them in accordance with established procedures. Water legislation shall provide for dam safety. This will ensure that the construction and operation of dams are done safely and with minimal environmental impact.
Sixthly, building of small and medium dams in feasible locations should be emphasized due to their low capital costs, easy maintenance and cheaper management compared to large dams. This will help to optimize water supply and reduce the environmental impact of large-scale dam construction.
Seventhly, continuous monitoring and inspection of dams should be carried out in accordance with laid down rules and regulations. This will help to detect any problems early and prevent disasters.
Eighthly, provisions for downstream releases for the environment and other uses should be ensured. This will help to maintain a healthy ecosystem and provide water for other uses.
Ninthly, a conducive environment should be provided for private sector participation. This will encourage private investment in dam construction, operation, and maintenance.
Lastly, the Water Resources Act 101 of 1993 should be enforced with regard to construction, operation, and maintenance of dams. This will ensure that all stakeholders follow the law and regulations governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams.
In conclusion, optimizing the benefits of dams is crucial for sustainable water resource management. The implementation of the strategies outlined above will go a long way in achieving this goal. It is therefore recommended that all stakeholders involved in dam construction, operation be properly advised.
