Interpreting mega-development projects as territorial traps: the case of irrigation schemes on the shores of Lake Chad (Borno State, Nigeria)

Abstract

Abstract. From the colonial era up to the present, mega-irrigation projects for agriculture have played a key role in the production of state space in Sahelian Africa. Transferring a concept proposed by Agnew (1994) onto a different scale, it is possible to interpret these mega-projects as "territorial traps". In fact, they set up boundaries (physical, relational, cognitive and operative) that force evolutive trajectories of the areas involved along rigid pathways. In the aftermath of the systematic failure of the mega-projects, farmers are faced with constraints determined by the trap imposed, without having any of the promised benefits in terms of productive growth, i.e. income. In many situations, the farmers have identified "a means of escape" from these catastrophes by transgressing the boundaries imposed by the territorial traps and reintroducing parts of the infrastructure to a common use. The case study traces the crisis, and ultimately the failure, of the mega-irrigation projects constructed in the 1970s along the shores of Lake Chad in Nigeria.

Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa

“…We attribute the lack of clear evidence for a 'hidden hand' phenomena in our sample to two factors. First, irrigation schemes reduce agricultural adaptability by appropriating water and land, and by regulating the sale or renting of plots [14,15]. Secondly, social aspects of development are often the most intractable, with technically minded planners less focussed on issues such as gender dynamics or resettlement programs associated with projects [20,37].…”

“…For example, the Nigerian South Chad Irrigation Project achieved 3% of the planned area, before failing completely as water availability declined. Drought undeniably foreclosed the possibility of irrigation, but the scheme had experienced continual management and maintenance problems since it's delayed opening, partly due to lower oil prices reducing Nigeria's income [4,15]. Furthermore, the decline in water availability should not have surprised planners, colonial authorities had documented both multi-year droughts in the early 20 th century and variations in the area of Lake Chad by up-to 50% [34].…”

Mega-infrastructure projects in drylands

“…In fact, as they advance, they tear up a delicate web of relationships between actors, resources, and spaces. They become traps that capture resources, people, and knowledge (Bertoncin and Pase 2017), reducing resilience to accelerated environmental and anthropogenic transformations (Eriksen 2016;Haller et al 2020). These machines rarely deliver on their promises, and enchantment can quickly turn into disenchantment.…”