Managing Water Resources in Nigeria: Global Thinking Versus Local Realities in the Cross River Basin

Abstract

Water resources management has passed through many stages over the millenium. In the process, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was discovered and embraced as a panacea for the world’s water resources problems. Many countries in the developing realm have adopted IWRM with measurable success. Experiences in the developing countries have never come out very clear. This study attempts to have insight into how the general principles of IWRM performs at local situations in Nigeria. The study employed semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, case studies and stakeholder meetings to examine the implementation of IWRM in the Cross River Basin (CRB), Nigeria. Secondary data sources on the situation at other river basin development authorities in Nigeria were also used to compare issues with the CRB. A number of local realities which challenge the implementation of IWRM were noted to include regional variations in the ecological circumstances and lack of sensitivities to such variations by policy makers, complex institutional problems and the absence of adequate knowledge of IWRM by implementing authorities. It was argued in the paper that IWRM itself cannot bring solution to water resources management unless the principles are effectively adapted to suit local circumstances.