THE Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission has called for the optimal utilisation of dams owned by both federal and state governments to meet water targets in the country.The commission's Coordinating Director, Razaq Jimoh, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja.'In the country, we have example of some dams, especially large dams that had been completed, some of them for more than 20 years and the level of utilisation in some cases is not more than 30 per cent.'So, this is a waste of resources and these are some of the things we have to ensure it doesn't happen. Some of the reasons why these large dams have not been fully utilised are the downstream water resources infrastructure like irrigation or for water supply scheme have not been developed.'Or some of them are still being developed; so we have to do all we can to encourage that such developments should be embarked upon to be completed; that's about maximising the utilisation of the water you've stored.'He noted that most dams with components of irrigation, water supply and hydropower generation were under-utilised due to lack of funds and neglect.A recent presentation made by the Ministry of Water Resources at the National Economic Council indicated that Nigeria has at least 264 medium and large dams with a combined storage capacity of 33 billion cubic metres of water for multipurpose use.These multipurpose uses include water supply, irrigation, hydropower, fisheries and eco-tourism.The presentation showed that 210 dams were owned by the Federal Government; 34 by the state governments; and 20 by private organisations.The 210 dams are also reported to have at least 350,000 hectares of irrigable land around them ready for development while there are 27 ongoing small earth dam projects nationwide with a total irrigable land potential of 2,700 hectares.The construction of such dams was stalled due to lack of funds to finance their development.Jimoh stressed the need for increased prioritisation of the water sector through the resuscitation of dam and allied activities to boost water supply and further promote efforts at ensuring food security in the country.He also noted that maximum utilisation of dam resources would boost the economy of the states in particular and the country at large.'The other important point about maximum utilisation of these water resources is so that you can maximise the social and economic benefits that are derivable from such projects.'For example if you have a dam that is for four purposes and you are only enjoying one purpose, it is not maximally utilised.'But if you are enjoying the four benefits for which the dam was designed, that way, you will be getting more benefits from that and for the community.''The director urged states to create their own Ministries of Water Resources, saying once that was done, dam operations at the state level would be better coordinated.'In some states, they don't have Water Resources Ministry; some have Water Resources and even for example Irrigation Department is in another ministry- the state's Ministry of Agriculture.'Then they also have some water resources efforts in the Ministry of Environment; in the governor's office; in public utilities, body or such other names like that.'And the problem is always that you are in a position where you don't know what obtains in all the 36 states; you don't know who is doing water resources-related projects if the Ministry of Water Resources is not available; so it's really a challenge,' he said.According to him, the commission would appeal to the National Council on Water Resources, the Federal Executive Council, and National Council of States to persuade states to create this ministry.'The thing we can do is to facilitate a persuasive approach to convincing such states to have the ministry of water resources so that it will be easy for any water resources agency to effectively communicate and exchange information, knowledge with such organisation.'For example we should be able to sponsor a memorandum to the National Council on Water Resources to make such recommendation and follow it up through the Federal Executive Council and through the National Council of States; and once the states buy the idea, they will be able to implement easily,' he added.
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