Nigeria’s Federal Government has partnered with the World Bank and other stakeholders to develop a strategic framework aimed at reversing the alarming decline of water bodies across the country, particularly in northern regions increasingly affected by desertification and environmental degradation.
The initiative centres on the validation of nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans designed to promote sustainable water resources management, restore degraded landscapes, and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities.
The project forms part of broader environmental reforms under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes initiative, which seeks to address growing ecological challenges affecting agriculture, water supply, and livelihoods in many parts of Nigeria.
FG, World Bank unveil blueprint to tackle shrinking water bodies
Experts say the new blueprint is expected to provide a comprehensive roadmap for tackling shrinking water bodies in Nigeria while promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
Speaking during a validation workshop held in Abuja, the Managing Director of Mecon Engineering and Services Ltd, Chuka Ofodile, explained that catchment areas represent natural watershed boundaries that determine how water resources influence economic development.
According to him, the management of these catchments must go beyond political boundaries since river systems and reservoirs naturally cut across states and sometimes international borders.
He noted that water resources play a central role in shaping the economic future of communities located within these catchment areas.
Ofodile said, “Catchments are natural watershed boundaries, and the development of these zones must be driven primarily by the water resources available within them.”
He added that factors such as geology, mineral resources, local culture, and population dynamics also influence how catchment regions evolve economically and environmentally.
The objective of the plans, he explained, is to establish economic zones where water resources can support sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihoods.
Environmental experts have long warned that shrinking water bodies in Nigeria could worsen food insecurity and increase migration pressures if urgent action is not taken.
Ofodile stressed that continuous planning and monitoring would be essential to ensure that investments in water management projects deliver long-term results.
He noted that previous national development initiatives had recorded measurable successes but warned that lack of sustained planning could undermine future gains.
“Without continuous review and strategic planning, the benefits of earlier investments could gradually decline while environmental challenges increase,” he said.
He further emphasised that the validation process was crucial in ensuring community ownership of development initiatives.
According to him, projects often fail when they are imposed from the top without sufficient local participation.
The validation workshop, therefore, allows stakeholders within each catchment area to review proposed interventions and contribute to the planning process.
Technical committees made up of local stakeholders will also be established to guide project implementation across short-, medium-, and long-term timelines.
These committees are expected to prioritise development interventions that support sustainable water management while improving livelihoods within the catchment areas.
Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the initiative represents a major step in addressing environmental challenges affecting millions of Nigerians.
He explained that communities in the northern part of the country face growing threats from advancing desertification, declining rainfall, degraded farmland, and shrinking water bodies.
“These environmental pressures are not abstract challenges,” the minister said. “They directly threaten the food security of our citizens, the livelihoods of farmers and herders, and the stability of many communities.”
The minister noted that the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project was designed as Nigeria’s strategic response to climate-related environmental risks.
He said the programme aims to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded ecosystems, and empower communities to manage natural resources sustainably.
The National Coordinator of the project, Abdulhamid Umar, represented at the event by communications officer Awwal Wara, disclosed that the initiative is supported by approximately $700m in funding from the World Bank.
According to him, the funding will support efforts to combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded farmlands, and improve water resource management across semi-arid regions.
Wara explained that the project had already completed the validation of 11 Strategic Catchment Management Plans, while the workshop would review the remaining nine.
The plans cover several states including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the strategies developed under the programme go beyond policy documentation and are designed to deliver practical solutions to environmental challenges.
These include tree planting initiatives, improved water management systems, climate-smart agriculture, and targeted interventions aimed at supporting rural households.
Officials also highlighted that the plans reflect the contributions of local communities gathered during consultations held in affected regions.
The World Bank’s hydrology director, Henrietta Alhassan, speaking on behalf of the institution’s task team, said effective catchment management is essential for protecting ecosystems and sustaining livelihoods.
She noted that safeguarding watersheds and restoring degraded landscapes would help strengthen food security while supporting long-term economic development.
Experts say the success of the blueprint will depend largely on sustained collaboration between federal and state governments, development partners, and local communities.
Stakeholders also called for stronger policy backing, including possible legislation, to ensure the continuity of the programme across different administrations.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could play a critical role in reversing the trend of shrinking water bodies in Nigeria while strengthening climate resilience in some of the country’s most vulnerable regions.
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