DOI: 10.36108/ssan/5991.07.0150 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND LARGE-SCALE IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY Femi Olokesusi and Olusegun Aredta ABSTRACT This paper takes a critical look at the main human problems and issues involved in high technology irrigation farming communities in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Nigeria. Findings of the study provide ample evidence of rural neglect and low level of satisfaction with the irrigation experience. The harsh eco climatic conditions and degradation of the environment account largely for the weight attached to environmental problems. The results of the study also show that water development projects need to consider issues broader in scope than as conceived at the moment. Finally, water resources projects should be subjected to environmental and socio-economic impact assessment. This and other suggestions made should eliminate observed community problems and non-satisfaction with irrigation projects. INTRODUCTION Since the 1966-73 Sudano-sahelian drought in Nigeria, measures have been taken to mitigate and, if possible, neutralize the adverse consequences of this recurrent climatic 74 Annals of The Social Science Council of Nigeria, No. 7. January-December. 1995 hazard. Prominent among such measures have been the development of irrigation and water resources on a large scale (see Table l).Three major River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have been operating in the region since 1973, namely: Chad, Sokoto-Rima and Hadejia-Jama'are RBDAs. The RBDAs were conceived as agents of rural development: they were set up to plan, formulate and implement comprehensive and integrated rural development programmes, with water resources development serving as the pivot or catalyst. Hence, the Decree that created the RBDAs, made provision for the establishment of the National River Basin Table 1 List of Major Irrigation Projects in Nigeria as at 1991 Name of Irrigation Project Size in Acres Location (State)"* South Chad Irrigation Project 22,000 Bomo Phase I Bakolori Irrigation Project 23,000 Sokoto Kano River Project 22,000 Kano Lower Anambra Irrigation Project 4,200 Anambra Tungan Kawo Irrigation Project 800 Niger Baga/Kirenowa Polder Project 1,724 Bomo *Hadejia Valley Projects 12,500 Jigawa *Swashi Irrigation Project 5,300 Niger *Jibiya Irrigation Project 3,400 Katsina *Kampe Irrigation Project 6,000 Benue **Oyan Dam Irrigation (Lower Ogun Project) 12,500 Ogun **Ikere Gorge Dam Irrigation (Middle Ogun) 12,500 Oyo Zpbie Irrigation Project 8,000 Katsina Goronyo Dam Irrigation (Zauro Polder and Middle Rima) 33,000 Sokoto **Niger Valley Irrigation Project 4,036 Niger Kiri (Savanna) Irrigation Project 6,000 Adamawa Dadin Kowa irrigation Project 44,000 Bauchi Note: * Under construction ** Ready for implementation *** States in the Sudano-Sahelian zone are underlined. Source: Federal Ministry of Water Resources (1991) "Spotlight on Water Resources and Development", First Anniversary Bulletin, FMWR, Abuja, Nigeria. Regional Development Needs and Large-Scale Irrigation Projects in Nigeria 75 Development Commission to advise on, among other issues, "the potential for integrated rural development of each basin” (Federal Military Government 1976: Olayide 1979; Adegeye 1982). A question that readily arises is the extent to which the ambitious irrigation and water resources development projects have satisfied the development needs and aspirations of the local inhabitants. There have been a few evaluation studies of the projects, but most of them have concentrated on the economics and sociology of the irrigation dam projects per se, and of the agricultural enterprises based on them (see Wallace 1979; Adams 1985; 1987; Eremie and Akinwumi 1986; Olofin 1992). But there has been no commensurate examination of the regional development impact of these projects. Both Federal and Stale Governments have been exasperated at times by the seeming ingratitude of some communities who still complain or even resort to violence after some development projects have been commissioned. This clearly emphasizes the need to examines all the ramifications of each development project even before they are implemented; in particular is necessary to accommodate the local people's views and aspirations in the project planning process. Consequently, the present study examines the local inhabitant's view of the large-scale irrigation and water resources development projects in relation to the perceived developmental needs of their localities. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY In a recent study (see Olokesusi 1992), one of the major issues was to assess the level of satisfaction of the local people in the Sudano-Sahelian region with the RBDA large-scale water development projects, and relate this to their own assessment of the development needs of their various localities. In tackling this issue, this paper attempts to: i. analyze the human concerns and environmental problems of the region as perceived by the rural inhabitants; ii. assess the level of the people's satisfaction with the water development schemes, in combating the perceived problems; iii. identify the development needs and aspirations of the people; and iv. in the light of the foregoing, comment on the conceptualization, formulation, planning and implementation of rural development programmes in Nigeria. The analysis is based on the responses of 597 rural inhabitants to a questionnaire survey in the catchment areas of three major water resources development projects 76 Annals of The Social Science Council of Nigeria, No. 7, January-December, 1995 in the Sudano-Sahelian belt of Nigeria; South Chad Phase I; Kano River Phase I and Bakolori. CONCEPTUAL ISSUES Within the past two decades or so there has been some agreement across disciplinary lines, professions and nations that successful rural development strategies require considerable understanding of the variable, micro-level social organization of production and consumption. The strategies, however, must be tailored to fit specific local socio-cultural and ecological conditions (Saint and Coward 1977; Schwartz and Eckhardt 1985; Cernea, 1985). The context, in which this research was conducted, therefore, encompasses development and its congruence with needs assessment and satisfaction. Development projects are complex systems of action (goals to be achieved through resource mobilization) that are interventions into existing natural and human systems in the community or region. Technical, economic, social, managerial and environmental components often make up a typical project with their constant interactions. Outputs may have desirable or undesirable effects on the natural and human systems, hence the need forimpact assessment as part of the planning process (Ingersoil 1990). Needs assessment is a component of the impact assessment process (Burdge 1982). Assessing needs as a concept means finding out what people think they need, want, or desire in a particular programme area. The planner or the change agent then sets about to design that programme, or at least, to modify existing ones, in line with expressed public input (Warheit et al. 1977; Burdge 1983). Needs assessment helps to determine the way people perceive issues of concern at community level or state-wide issues for policy making. The absence of needs assessment as an integral part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and project planning process in many development projects have led to disastrous results. EIA is herein defined as the process by which estimates are made in advance of the socio-economic and bio-physical consequences which are likely to follow from specific projects or programmes, especially in the context of Nigerian Environmental Impact Assessment Decree No. 86 of 1992. In arid regions, for instance, the scarcity of irrigation water is regarded as the major stumbling block to agricultural production and productivity. Successful irrigation depends on an elaborate social organization and complex maintenance and distribution systems that alter the environment and, in some cases may destroy the traditional bases of subsistence, e.g., less offish population’s in-rivers that have been damned. In such situations, expected project beneficiaries may end up Regional Development Needs and Large-Scale Irrigation Projects in Nigeria 77 experiencing lower income and quality of life (Derman and Whiteford 1985; Olofin 1988; Wallace and Oculi 1989; Sengupta 1991; Olokesusi 1993a&b). A community needs assessment is an excellent way of involving the public in problem solving and developing project or local goals. Needs assessment can also be viewed as a process of citizen involvement, whereby people not only learn more about the situation, but also feel that they have had a voice in the outcome Rosenbaum 1976; Burler and Howell 1980). Needs assessment, as part of the EI-SIA process both before and after a development project, is quite critical for achieving the desired goals. Unlike growth, development implies a multi-faceted process of social change. According to Dunn 1971), development is the ability of an organization, community or society to change i transform itself) as the result of research and planning. As a concept at community, regional and national levels, development encompasses socio-cultural, technological and political phenomena as well as economic growth and distribution of wealth (WCED 1997). In rural development projects, analyses of the farmers' attitudes, beliefs, and access to information about new technologies are required, for