Nigerians may have a water resource challenge on their hands in the coming years. Adding to this problem is water resource management and all the uncertainty around proposed policies.
- Nigeria moves up 37 places in water stress risk despite allocating ₦899.98 in 12 years to water resources
- Agriculture, domestic usage driving Nigeria’s water stress risk
- Calls for policy to protect and manage water resources
- Nigerians may face starvation over shrinking water supplies
Nigeria’s annual rainfall reduced by over 20%. But perhaps the more troubling prospect is the looming freshwater supply shortage, per the data-set from the World Research Institute (WRI). This is a situation when the demand for water exceeds the amount during a certain period.
WRI made the revelation through its Aqueduct platform, a data-set that tracks the change in water supply, water demand. The baseline used measures the ratio withdrawals for agriculture, industry and domestic use to the available renewable water supplies. It further adopted an ensemble of socioeconomic scenarios to score and ranked the countries.
Already India, Iran, Botswana and 17 countries around the world suffer under extreme water stress. And compared to a decade ago, Nigeria is more vulnerable to water scarcity, the data shows.
In 2010, Nigeria ranked 127 on the water risk charts at a low risk 0.33%. Less than a decade after, we moved up 37 places to a low-medium 1.39% sitting at position 90. Leading the charge for 2019, were Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano, the top five contributing states.
Rising population increase demand
In truth, Nigeria’s position at 90 is not exactly high stakes; we should be alright for at least two decades. However, the low-medium status could quickly change hands should a drought occur.
Even the United Nations warned that by 2030, almost half the world will live under conditions of high water stress. The agency premised this concern about population increase amid ever-depleting resources.
Likewise, the World Economic Forum shared the same concern, ranking water security among the top global risks for the next decade. In fact, World Bank research emphasized that “while the consequences of drought are often invisible, they are significant and cause misery in slow motion.”
Nigeria’s unique challenge
In 33 years, Nigeria recorded a 137% water withdrawal from citizens for domestic agriculture and industry use. More so, population remained a huge factor.
In 1987, 88.05 million Nigerians withdrew 5.59 billion cubic meter (M3) of freshwater resources. By 2010, 158.5 million Nigerians had withdrawn 12.9 billion cubic meter (M3) water resources. Today, Nigeria’s population is over 200 million!
Worse, though, is the compound implication of water depletion. Already this year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned that Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano would endure food shortages.
Speaking with Dataphyte, Kunle Ajayi expressed concern for the direness of the situation. He explained that the situation would be worse in the coming years, spelling trouble for farmers and by extension everyone.
“The need to save water is real,” the Agriculture Economist exclaimed. He further noted the UN’s projection of Africa’s population doubling come 2050 and the consequences. “… from 1 billion to nearly 2.4 billion inhabitants, this means we need more water and more food.”
Corroborating WRI’s findings is a study by Amah Joseph Idu, titled Threats to Water Resources Development in Nigeria. Here, he noted how policy action was imperative for our survival.
“Governments and authorities in charge of water management need to act and formulate policies that check these trends and make outlook manageable.”
Availability versus water resource management
Other than population, Nigeria seems to have a regulation problem for water resources.
Designated with aqua management is the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR). And between 2009 and 2020, the government has allocated ₦899.98 billion to the agency. Yet, there have been several reports of neglected water projects over the years.
Water Resources Bill
To curb these issues, the government introduced the National Water Resources Bill, 2020. And it is not its first entrance. The 8th Assembly rejected the first iteration, but it’s back again. Following its reintroduction in the 9th assembly, it became a source of controversies across the country.
The contending issue, however, is the power vested to the Federal government the absolute right to use, manage and control surface water, ground waterbeds and banks. After all, the United Nations recognised access to water as a fundamental human right.
And although the Human Rights Council on rights to water resolved that governments in accordance with their laws may regulate water usage, if it meant safe affordable water for all, many Nigerians are concerned about entrusting such a vital natural resource to the government; they so far have not been prudent with other resources.
How to fix the problem?
Betsy Otto, who directs the global water program at the World Resources Institute, called for proper management of water resources.
“First, city officials can plug leaks in the water distribution system. Wastewater can be recycled. Rain can be harvested and saved for lean times: lakes and wetlands can be cleaned up and old wells can be restored, governments must establish policies to reduce risks upfront and manage those risks that are unavoidable.”
“Improved water management remains a policy imperative and Nigeria must take it seriously. It is critical Nigeria work out a solution to protect our children’s future. The USA today is doing tremendously in that aspect, likewise Norway. Nigeria can learn from them and implement policies that satisfy all uses and demands.”
When asked on the way out and what is the solution, Ajayi asked, “Nigeria is expected to be the third most populated country in the world, how ready are we, what are we doing to protect the resource we need to survive?”
“Water is easy to take for granted. If we do not design and implement policies to adequately manage the resources, we might head for a serious problem. Hence the need for a robust water resource management solutions “
A global opinion from 1,200 sustainability experts in 80 countries offered some best solutions to the freshwater crisis which Nigeria must adopt.
Some of which are:
- Educating the public on the need to change consumption and lifestyles patterns
- Using new water conservation technologies
- Recycling of wastewater
- Improving irrigation and agricultural practices
- Developing energy efficient desalination plants
- And improving water distribution infrastructure.
Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.
