The African Water Facility has announced, that it has offered the Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund a EUR 2 mn grant for a strategic action plan to develop water resources in the Komadugu-Yobe basin in northern Nigeria.

Over 15 mn people depend on the basin and stand to benefit from this project, particularly those employed in agriculture and aquaculture.

The basin’s economy is dependent on freshwater resources, particularly on the livelihoods generated from rivers’ wetland ecosystems. Kano city and other major urban towns and rural settlements situated in or near the basin have also seen a significant increase in water demand for human consumption and other urban needs.

The project is designed to help meet these water needs and address associated challenges through an integrated water resources management plan focused on the refurbishing and reopening the Tiga and Challawa Gorge dams. This will enhance urban water supply, agriculture water management, aquaculture, rangeland management, as well as ecosystem services through enhanced water resources allocation, use and management.

“This new action plan is poised to address, in a more sustainable way, fundamental water resources management issues that are preventing millions of people from living better lives in northern Nigeria,” commented Akissa Bahri, Coordinator of the African Water Facility. “For the ecological services and the livelihoods that are dependent on the basin’s river system, we anticipate full regeneration, bringing a much-needed boost to the local and regional economy.”

The strategic action plan will outline the short- to long-term actions and related investments needed to restore sound water management in the basin through optimisation and reopening the Tiga and Challawa Gorge dams, identified as vital intervention to improve the use of the basin’s water resources and to increase water flow in the lower part of the basin and to the Lake Chad.

The Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund is in charge of the project in partnership with the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission. The Fund is jointly maintained by six Nigerian states: Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Plateau and Yobe, in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Government.

The new plan also presents an opportunity for greater cross-border collaboration between Nigeria and the Komadugu-Yobe Basin riparian countries, which should lead to increased mutual benefits.