Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority Position Paper

Background
Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) is a Nigerian organisation that
aims to develop and manage surface and ground water resources within our area of
coverage, and provide access to safe and adequate water for domestic, industrial, flood
control and agricultural purposes to enhance the quality of life of the people and promote
the socio-economic development of the country. We are responsible for upstream of the
Komadugu-Yobe River Basin spanning the Hadejia and Jama'are Rivers before they converge
into Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands.

Responsibilities and interests

- Comprehensive development of both surface and ground water resources for multi-purpose
use (irrigation infrastructures, flood and erosion control, watershed management)
- Interested in water supply projects specifically in the nine states in the Hadejia Jama'are
region; installations include standby generators, purpose-built generator houses and water
treatment facilities as well as service quarters
- Construct and maintain infrastructure and infrastructural services
- Supply water using schemes, to all users for a fee
Concerns regarding water resources management

1) Collective water resource management in collaboration with other organisations

- Reaching an integrated water management master plan that satisfies all needs

2) Sustainable water supply

- Current water demand exceeds water supply (11 million population in Kano city, one of
many recipients of water from HJRBDA)
- Climate changes will put pressure on water supply whilst population continues to grow
- Detrimental environmental impacts

3) Water quality
- Sanitation and hygiene issues particularly within densely populated urban areas (e.g. Kano
city)

- Increased risk of water-borne diseases from still water in reservoirs

4) Maintenance of existing schemes and infrastructure

- Dams, which are currently not providing additional irrigation gains and creating economic
losses
- Agricultural schemes (e.g. Kano River Irrigation Project)

Suggestions for future water management

Integrated water management

- Acknowledge and aim to resolve downstream and upstream requirements with minimum
conflict
- Learn from the Benin Owena Master Plan that offered representation of multiple
stakeholders at all levels (individuals, groups and communities) in decision making
- Use consultants and technology to aid long-term water management plans
- Improve transparency of decision making regarding water management

Improve existing water use for sustainability

- Regulated floods to reduce variability of downstream water supply (particularly in the
wetlands)
- Education of affected populations (e.g. fisherman)
- Improve river flow and reduce excess floods by clearing weeds, silt and other obstructions
- Implement water treatment to improve sanitation and reduce water loss (for urban water
supply)

Plan for the future

- Use stakeholder feedback to continually review the master plan with short-term and longterm goals
- Improve collection and collation of water resources, water use, socio-economic and
environmental data

- Review existing water management practices (e.g. KRIP) and seek to improve efficiency
References

Chiroma, M., Kazaure, Y., Karaye, Y., Gashua, A. 'Water Management Issues in the HadejiaJama'are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin: DFID-JWLand Stakeholders Experience in Information
Sharing, Reaching Consensus and Physical Interventions'

Thompson, J., Hollis, G. (1995) 'Hydrological modelling and the sustainable development of
the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria', Hydrological Sciences Journal, 40:1, 97-116

Barbier, E., Thompson, J. (1998) 'The Value of Water: Floodplain versus Large-Scale Irrigation
Benefits in Northern Nigeria', Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Thomas, D., Adams, W. (1997) 'Space, time and sustainability in the Hadejia-Jamaare
wetlands and the
Komodugu Yobe basin, Nigeria', Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 22(4),
430-450

http://www.hjrbda.com.ng/