Report of the National Meeting of Natural Resources Stakeholders
30 June – 1 July, 2008
Haribina Hotel (Capitol Accommodations), Utako District, Abuja, Nigeria
Introduction
The meeting began with an opening ceremony and was followed by plenary and break out sessions.
The Opening Ceremony, which was facilitated by Ms. Faith Nwadishi, was graced by His Exellency, Mohammed Bello Tuga, the NBA Executive Secretary ably represented by Mr. Barry Boubakar. Another dignitary at the meeting was Mamoudou Diallo, a representative of the Regional Team of Technical Assistance to the project. The Honorable Minister for Agric and Water Resources and the NBA Focal Point in Nigeria were conspicuously absent from the meeting. An official of the ministry, Mr. Paul Ibeka, explained that the minister and the NBA Focal Point had been traveling but no one from the ministry was delegated to represent either official. Seventy one (71) persons representing a cross section of civil society organizations and water users from 20 states and Abuja attended the meeting. Opening prayers where said by Emeka Betram and Nuhu Lawal according to Christian and muslim faith respectively. Godwin Gende, a delegate from Benue State moved the motion for the adoption of the agenda, while Mrs Elisabeth E. from Kebbi State, representing Widows Farmers Association seconded the motion.
Self introduction of participants were made. This was followed by a welcome address by the National Reference, Hope Ogbeide.
Address of Welcome by Hope Eghe Ogbeide, National Reference
Hope Ogbeide was excited about the project and declared his privilege of being a Nigerian working for a project like this. Having witnessed the several cancellation of the National meeting, the National Reference was glad that participants could find the grace, passion and commitment to be part of the historic event. He posited that the challenge before the house was to discuss issues that affected Nigerian position in the Niger basin wherein ¼ of the basin is within Nigeria. He further informed that there were plans on the way to build three more dams up stream of the Niger basin. The effect of which he said would further deteriorate the already threatened ecosystem.
Hope Ogbeide concluded by stating that all imaginary lines that separated the basin states should be broken. Faith added that Nigeria was the only anglo-fone country among the 9 countries of the Niger basin
The Address of the NBA Executive Secretary, His Excellency, Mohammed Bello Tuga
The address of the Executive Secretary NBA, His Excellency Mohammed Bello Tuga was read by Diallo as requested by his representative Mr. Barry Boubakar. In his speech, the NBA Executive Secretary expressed appreciation to participants for attending the first meeting of the users of the natural resources on the portion of the Niger basin in Nigeria. He reassured the teaming participants of the firm support and the willingness of the NBA to work with civil society to overcome poverty and preserve the ecosystem in the Niger River basin shared by nine states and our several peoples. He extended his deepest gratitude to the Nigerian Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources who is also the Chair of the Council of Ministers in the NBA for guardianship of the NBA. He also extended an appreciation to all people of good will including the organizers, the authorities, technical and financial partners for their valuable assistance and commitment that led to the hosting of the meeting.
The NBA boss recalled that there live in the Niger Basin over 110million people of whom more than half is in the Nigerian national portion. He also reiterated that despite its enormous potentials in natural resources and efforts in recent decades for its preservation and development by the nine member states, this important trans-border basin is still threatened by serious degradation of its ecosystem and the extreme poverty of its people.
He opined that to remedy the deplorable situation, the heads of states and government of the NBA decided in Bamako in 2002 to elaborate and implement a shared vision geared towards alleviating poverty and promoting peaceful and sustainable development of the Niger basin. He further stated that one of the main thrust of this new strategic political re-orientation, was the involvement and effective participation of CSOs in the process of safe guarding and ensuring the development of the shared basin. The NBA, he posited, had worked tirelessly with the several development partners since the regional multi-sectoral studies was commissioned in 2005 Bamako workshop. He informed the participants that as users of natural resources in the basin, they are well recognized by the NBA as key forces in the process of mobilizing and participating in the action for the sustainable development of the Niger basin.
He concluded that the organization of this event will finally make possible the establishment of regional coordination of users of the Niger basin as recommended by NBA Council of Ministers.
Presentation of NBA and the Shared Vision Process by Mamoudou Diallo, Regional Team of Technical Assistance
Mamoudou Diallo began by appreciating the outstanding quality of Hope Ogbeide and his team for their commitment, passion and tireless energy at overcoming all the challenges and inhibitions in order to host the conference in Nigeria, a key role player in the process. He also extended a salutation to the CSOs for being part of the mobilization.
He nose-dived into the history of the various attempts at ensuring that the shared vision and the common faith of our people cutting across Mali, Guinea, Cameroon, Tchad, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’ Ivoire and Nigeria is not compromised. In 2002 at Abuja, Nigeria, there was an awareness meeting of the ministers and Heads of States to examine the fundamentals of having a Shared Vision that guarantees the proper management of our resources. In 2004 in Paris, France, the Heads of States in the NBA consented to a declaration tagged Paris Declaration with a focus on development of infrastructure, ecosystem preservation, participation and capacity building for different stakeholders. There was also the urgency for a translation of the Shared Vision into an Action Plan.
Mr. Diallo further stated that the three major priority areas for the sustainable Development action plan of the NBA are as follows; 1. Socio-economic infrastructural development 2. Protection of the ecosystem and 3. Capacity building and full participation of CSO actors
In the areas of Socio-economic infrastructure development, there was a need for a-20-year action plan
Speaking on the brief history of the NBA process, Taiwo Otitiloye declared that the idea began as far back as 1964 and was called the Niger Basin Commission which was later called the Niger River commission. However in 1980, it was renamed the Niger basin commission. The objective according to him is the coordination amongst member states for the proper management of resources of the Niger basin.
Problems of Natural Resources Management in the Basin National Portion
The participants were divided into three groups according to their ecological zones along the Niger River in Nigeria. The groups comprised:
1. The Hydro power Zone and its surroundings consisting of Niger, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Adamawa and Katsina states
2. The Niger Delta Zone and surroundings consisting of;
Anambra, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa States
3. The Benue Zone and surrounding consisting of;
Benue, Kwara, Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Nasarawa, FCT and Plateau Sates.
The task was for each zone to deliberate on the problems of the natural resources management peculiar to their zones according to the outlined thematic areas
Identified Problems and Recommendations
The Hydro power Zone
Livestock
Lack of grazing reserves
Lack of designated routes for animals
Inadequate or complete absence of vaccines and professionals in the field (vet experts)
Inadequate water for livestock
Conflict on grazing land between farmers and cattle breeders
Stealing of cattles (Security)
Lack of complementary feeds during disadvantaged seasons
Recommendations
Government/stakeholders to make provision for adequate grazing reserves
Increased sensitization/capacity building among CSO in budget tracking
Community to take responsibilities of their problems through their elected representatives
Involving communities in decision making through dialogue
Organization and formation of a zonal monitoring committee
Environment/Wetlands and Dam affected Communities
inadequate/improper resettlement leading to inter communal clashes
Irrigation and navigation problems during dry period and over flooding during raining seasons, lead to loss of lives and property, also affecting fishing activities
Lack of access to electricity by most communities and annual flooding of both the up stream and down stream communities resulting in disaster and increased risk to lives and property
Poverty and unemployment due to loss of land and general displacement
Problem of unfulfilled promises of resettlement by government and the relevant stakeholders
Recommendations
Benefit sharing. Host communities should have a reasonable portion of what ever is shared
Stakeholders committees should be formed to monitor execution of projects in the communities
Urgent attention to electrification of the communities by the necessary stakeholders and organization
Development strategies should be employed to mobilize all communities to avoid violence
Committee based multi-stakeholders dialogue using the framework of the world commission on dams
The HYPPADEC bill should be implemented efficiently
Special education to be provided for all these special or target groups
Government/stakeholders should access all other options for energy, water supply, and agriculture, including solar, biomass, wind (i.e. alternative source of energy)
Adequate drainage, to take care of wetlands/environment- to take care of floods
The power sector in Nigeria needs to be probed for looting $16bn without results
Women and children
Women are not involved in decision making, especially in the traditional setups
Women do not have access to quality education due to early marriage
Women are not adequately represented in governance and politics
Women are not allowed to participate in real trade and commerce
Street hawking and child labour is problematic in the north
The ‘Almajiri’ system is a problematic issue
Recommendations
Free education for all (agric/cultural education)
Capacity building for marketing of agricultural produce
Women to be involved in decision making
Women should be empowered
Women should be encouraged to partake in politics and governance
Skill acquisition centers to be provided
Enactment of laws to protect children from child labour and street hawking
Provide agro-based projects that will absorb the ‘almajiris’ (beggars) especially the OVC (orphan and vulnerable children)
Water supply and Sanitation
Poor sanitation policy
Inadequate water supply
Poor waste disposal system
Poor and in some cases lack of drainage system
Recommendations
Sanitary inspectors should be engaged
Let there be a re introduction of periodic sanitation day
All stakeholders should be engaged in the funding of both urban and rural functional drainage systems
Summary
There should be capacity building in all the areas of need of the communities along the Niger basin, such capacity building/skill training should be research based and along the needs of the people
Very importantly, there should be an inauguration of a zonal structure for monitoring and evaluation.
Use of media as a tool
Evolve a research mechanism
Self attitudinal change (starting with ourselves)
At state levels, implement child rights bill (to be passed at states houses of assembly’s child rights Act 2003)
Build capacity on advocacy.
Niger-Delta Zone
The issues concerning the zone were placed under three categories, which are;
Personal attitude. i.e. the issues of self pollution by the various communities under review
External influences. i.e. issues of company operations within the area
Art of God or natural causes such as flood, erosion, e.t.c.
Identified Problems
Insufficient availability of portable drinking water
Neglect of already existing water projects
Loss of valuable farm land
Gully erosion
Pollution of the river and creeks by the operation of oil exploration companies in the area
Pollution of water from the use of boats
Extraction of sand which affect the environment ecologically
Poor sanitation habits (i.e. dumping of household waste in the water ways
Premature harvesting of crops due to river overflow
Lack of proper sewage facilities
Pipeline leakage and vandalisation
Overflow of the river and creeks by flood either by rain or dredging of the river
Food insecurity as a result of early/premature harvesting of crops due to flood
De-forestation due to bush burning
Lack of storage facility for food produce
Threat to surrounding communities by over flow of dams
Insecurity on the water ways
Lack of good roads for transportation of agricultural produce
Gas flaring
Solutions proffered
Clear community development programmes taking into account the identified problems should be put in place and implemented by government and its development partners in collaboration with the CSOs and communities
Advocacy to develop skills for leadership in the handling and pursuing of the stated problems
Sanitation programmes among the various communities affected
Rehabilitation and development of water treatment plants in the states affected
To bring the government in the affected states to participate and not for them to continue to neglect their responsibilities to the affected communities.
To reach out to the multi-national oil companies to play a more active role through the community development committees in all host communities as well as to partner with these communities in sensitization projects
Use of the media as an essential partner to help advocate and pursue the issues raised
Festive period are a good time to carry out sensitization/awareness activities
People with disabilities should be taken in to consideration through out the processes. Especially in line with;
Language
Access to transportation
Benue Zone
Identified Problems
Outbreak of diseases e.g. river blindness
Over flooding leading to loss of farm lands
Inadequate incentives to utilize the abundant natural resources
Absence of processing industries – thus sell their farm produce at raw marterial level, thereby exposed to middlemen exploitation
Dam sites harbour wild animals like hippopotamus that cause distraction to crops and farmland
Unused natural resources
Inadequate irrigational activities due to poor incentives by the respective authorities
Poor support to farmers organizations
Lack of credit facilities and credible market outlets
Poor socio-economic status of farmers due to the activities of middlemen
Absence of feeder road network
Absence of government policy on water to check water pollution
Absence of processing industries
Lack of storage facilities
Outbreak of disease such as cholera
Reduction of fishing activities as low as to 10% due to the other aquatic lives at the up stream
Displacement of communities as a result of flooding
Acute erosion
Absence of environmental impact assessment, thus leading to hazardous situations
Loss of means of livelihood
Lack of portable drinking water
Poor market outlets
Under utilization of dam resources
Pollution as a result of mining activities
Lack of compensation over claimed lands
Reduced fishing activities
Poor response to emergency cases
Solutions
Education
Impact assessment
Community participation
Create conducive atmosphere for level play ground for power supply
Policy formulation to take care of natural hazards
Implement community development project in collaboration with communities
Mechanism of Participation at National and Regional Levels
The meeting agreed to the mechanism by which the CSOs in Nigeria will participate in national and regional activities of the NBA. The established organisational structure is as shown in chart below:
General Assembly
↓
National Executive Committee
↓
Zonal Coordinators
↓
State Executive Committee
↓
Senatorial Representatives
↓
Local Government Area Representatives
↓
Community Committees
↓
Community
The General Assembly is the highest body comprising all members of the organization in Nigeria. Information flows in both directions. Election of state and national officers begins from the community.
Establishment of National Coordination – the National Executive Committee and Hosting Structure.
National Coordination: The three regions presented the persons who had been elected to fill the earlier mentioned vacant national executive offices and they are as shown on table 1 below.
The name of the structure: “Civil Society Organisations in NBA Shared Vision Process (CSO-NBA), Nigeria
Hosting Structure: The participants agreed that the Society for Water and Public Health Protection (SWAPHEP) should be the host secretariat for CSO-NBA
Suggested Name of Regional Structure: Participants were of the view that a common name should be adopted at the regional level and then each country will have a chapter of the regional name. The following names were suggested out of which one could be chosen:
CSOs Niger Basin Dialogue Forum
CSOs Forum for the Niger Basin Development
Table 1: The National Executive Committee (EXCO)
| S/N | NAME | POSITION | THEMATIC AREA/ZONE | STATE |
| 1 | Hope Eghe Ogbeide | Chair person | Edo | |
| 2 | Faith Nwadishi | Vice Chair | Niger Delta Zone | Delta |
| 3 | Noma Usman Aliyu | Vice Chair | Hydropower Zone | Niger |
| 4 | Taiwo Otitolaye | Vice Chair | Benue Zone | Kwara |
| 5 | Sanusi Hashimu | Secretary | Youths and Children | Zamfara |
| 6 | Nuhu Lawal | Ass. Secretary | Dam Affected Communities | Niger |
| 7 | Dudu Mamman Manuga | Public Relations Officer (P.R.O) | Women and Gender | Gombe |
| 8 | Impapamie Dabo-Ojo | Treasurer | Boat Owners | Rivers |
| 9 | Aminu I. Abdullahi | Member | Livestock/nomads | Adamawa |
| 10 | Engr. P.M.A Atolagbe | Member | Water and Sanitation | Kwara |
| 11 | Engr. Iornenge Kunti Adamu | Member | Arable Farmers | Benue |
| 12 | Chief Ebikebina Ogboka | Member | Fishery | Bayelsa |
| 13 | Ozegbe Jude | Member | Petroleum/mining | Delta |
| 14 | Ojeomere Austin | Member | Environment | Edo |
| 15 | Ubaka Emeka Betram | Member | Persons with Disabilities | Edo |
The elected officers, during their presentation, were informed that they were given a three-month probation period to prove their worth and commitment as those who are not able to perform up to standard will be replaced by other persons. It was re-iterated that these positions are rotational among the regions.
The National Coordination Action Plan
Due to limitation of time and in view of the need for easy agreement among those to draw the action plan, a committee comprising Hope Ogbeide, Noma Usman Aliyu, Faith Nwadishi, Sanusi Hashimu, Otitolaye Taiwo and Emeka Betram Ubaka was constituted and asked to stay behind for an extra day in Abuja to draw up a 2-year Plan of Action.
The Plan of Action drawn by the committee was sent to the participants for their input. The Plan of Action and the time chart are attached in a separate file.
CSOs and Community Capacity Building on the Basis of Expressed Needs
The participants want capacity building support to be given in the following areas:
Training on advocacy skills and tools,
Training on skill acquisition and business development
Training on enhancement of livelihood activities
Training for media organizations for effective reporting
Financial and material support for livelihood activities
Appreciation
The organizers and the participants at the meeting thank His Excellency, Mohammed Bello Tuga, the Executive Secretary of the NBA for finding time to attend the meeting in Abuja through his representative. We appreciate his message to the Nigerian CSOs. Thanks to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources for the advice. We also thank Eau Vive, the regional secretariat for the logistic and other support to this meeting. Many thanks go to Mr. Mammoudou DIALLO, a representative of the Regional Team of Technical Assistance to the meeting for all his support and advice. We are also grateful to the financial partners of the NBA for the financial support to this meeting. The Society for Water and Public Health Protection (SWAPHEP), which hosted the project in Nigeria is also appreciated for all her administrative support to the meeting.
