Integrated Water Resources Management in the Cross River Basin, Nigeria

Water for Cities in Nigeria: The Governance Dimension

“…Even the few lists of regulations/legislations (Table 5) that are available at the federal level must have arisen by executive decisions and directives without the participatory inputs of the citizens. Except the few legislations put down by the colonial master (the water works Acts 1915; the Minerals Act of 1917; and the Public Health Act of 1917), all others were the products of military fiats and pronouncements (Akpabio, 2007). The very first attempt at making a semblance of governance practice in the water sector came when the idea of using the river basins as units of organizing water management in emerged in 1976.…”

“…Many scholars have passed a 'failing' judgement on the river basin concept in Nigeria (Mitchell, 1999;Salau, 1986Salau, & 1990Akpabio, et al, 2007). The most pronounced cases of such failure are the antagonistic relationship between basin management authorities and host communities (Akpabio, 2007). Throughout the discussions in the paper, it is important to note that the federal government of Nigeria seems to be leading and most influential actor in the water governance of Nigeria.…”

“…Though the idea represented a significant realization of the need for effective holistic water governance, the mere fact that such decisions were handed down from the top without the active involvement of the citizens makes it a weak imitation of what should constitute effective water governance. Many scholars have passed a 'failing' judgement on the river basin concept in Nigeria (Mitchell, 1999;Salau, 1986Salau, & 1990Akpabio, et al, 2007). The most pronounced cases of such failure are the antagonistic relationship between basin management authorities and host communities (Akpabio, 2007).…”

Lisrel Analysis of Factors for Empowering Producers to Abolish Livelihood Poverty through Optimizing Agricultural Water Resources Management

“…Hussain et al (2006) showed that negative social and environmental consequences often hurt the poor more than the non poor because the poor lack political power and the financial resources to avoid the potentially adverse impacts of irrigation, from physical displacements to health risks and land degradation. Akpabio et al (2007) reported that irrigation can increase the yields of most crops. Furthermore, irrigation leads to less risky and more continuous levels of rural employment and income.…”

“…Technology-oriented management should be balanced with human-oriented management (Ahmad, 2003). Akpabio et al (2007) pointed out that equitable resource allocation, efficient and balanced resource use, participation of stakeholders in decision making and recognition of linkages and interactions among human and physical systems are key principles in integrated water resource management. Giordano (2007) believes that the increasing pressure on agricultural water use comes at a time when rural poverty reduction and national food security are major national goals.…”