The Influence of Dams on the Growth and Development of Nigerian Economy
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THE INFLUENCE OF DAMS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIAN ECONOMY 1VICTOR. ABHIELE. OKOSUN, 2AKONGBOWA .BRAMWELL. AMADASU 1General Studies Department, College of Education, Ekiadolor, Benin City, Nigeria. 2Department of Public Administration, Benson Idahosa University Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract— The kernel of this paper is on the influence of dams on growth and development of the Nigerian economy. Countries in “the third world”, less developed nations and advanced nations recognize the sin qua non role of dams in the overall development of their economies, most particularly in the rural and urban sectors. Thereby, efflorescing growth and development. A corollary to the former sentence gave impetus to Nigeria to embark upon the construction and maintenance of dams all over the nation. Nigeria spent a colossal sum of over 10 (ten) trillion dollars in the construction of dams. However, a microscopic view of Nigeria political landscape will reveal that the construction of dams is laced with a misgrill success and failures. This finds expression in the plethora of problems bedeviling the policy. These problems include the issue of corruption, inadequate funds etc. Consequently, the paper defines the concept of dams and development. The paper is explicated with the aid of holistic theory and system theory. The nexus or the interconnect between dams, growth and development is orchestrated. The socio-economic cum political pathologies benighting the construction and the maintenance of dams is discussed. Epitomizing, the paper opines that the government policy on the construction of dams and its maintenance in all ramifications, is a veritable pedestal for the development of Nigerian economy. Keywords— Dams, Economy, Development, Construction. I. INTRODUCTION witness expanded trade, coping with urbanization and the increase in population. It equally raises The issue of the influence of dams on the growth and productivity to a higher pedestal and lowers the cost development of Nigeria economy has occupied the of doing business (Anyanwu, 2013). front burner in the discourse amongst academics, Given the above background, the paper review the scholars of public administration. The consequence of germane issues pertaining to the influence of dams on the foregoing is that, it has drawn the intellectual and the growth and development of Nigeria economy. practical attention of Nigerians from various field of The paper is divided into sections beginning with an human endeavors such as political economy, introduction. The first section deals with the concepts geography, agricultural science etc. The raison d’être of development. It also include the theoretical for the latter sentence can be attributed to the singular framework. The paper shall be explicated with the aid fact that development studies view dams (a non- of system theory and holistic theory. The section consumable infrastructure) as a vehicle for the growth examines the nexus between dams and the and development of both the arid and semiarid region development of Nigeria economy. The socio, political of Nigeria. and economic pathologies bedeviling the construction However, an x ray of the political theater of Nigeria and maintenance of dam is also included in this part. will bring to limelight that the federal and state The third section deals with the need for a paradigm government has constructed various dams in Nigeria. shift in the federal government policy on dams. This The federal government alone has constructed over is with aim of galvanizing and stimulating the 100 dams out of 323 dams identified (Uyigue, 2014) development of Nigeria economy. some examples of the dams include Shiroro dams in Niger state, Zobe dam in Kastina state, the Kir dams II. CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION in Adamawa state e.t.c (Enplan group, 2005). DEVELOPMENT The government officials “who are clothed with offices”, expected that these dams constructed will Variegated definitions have been given by various improve the standard of living of the various host scholars on the concept development. In other words, communities, thereby drawing the inhabitants to the the concept has been defined differently according to vortex of national economy (Okosun and Urhoghide, the perspective which they view it. In this regard, 2013). However, an analysis of the impact of these there is not one definition of development. dams will reveal that it is mix grilled in the sense that According to Ile (2001), development refers to “the there are both negative and positive impacts of dams. change that is continuously taking place in man and According to the United States Environmental his physical, social, cultural and other environment. Protection Agency Office of Grant and Debarment A synthesis of the above definition will reveal that Ile (2009), infrastructures of different types such as dams was quite perspective to the issue at hand. This can be help in accelerating and synergizing growth and seen in the fact that he sees development in a given development of a nation. It enables the populace to society as containing indicators. These indicators are Proceedings of Academics World 8th International Conference, Dubai, UAE, 13th November 2015, ISBN: 978-93-85832-47-5 4 The Influence of Dams on the Growth and Development of Nigerian Economy political, social, and cultural changes that occurs in a Concrete gravity dams rely on weight of the concrete environment. Thus to him, development posses the of which they are built to resist the forces (gravity etc attribute of ambience (Iyoha, 2008). What the latter to which they are subjected (Steve Free, 2004). sentence implies is that development must take place Concrete arch dams and buttress dams can be built in an environment of a given society, state or nation using a smaller amount of concrete that is required and it must be on a continuous basis. for a gravity dam and as a result it cheaper to build Todaro and Smith (2003) contend “that the concept (Steve Free, 2004). development arises when the question are ask what Fill or embanement dams: Earth dams are built of happens to poverty? What has been happening to homogenous impermeable earth materials so that the unemployment? What has been happening to impermeable membrane is the whole dam wall. inequality? If all three of these have declined from (Steve Free, 2004). high level, then beyond doubt this has been a period Earth or rock fill dams have a relatively narrow, of development for the country concerned. impermeable earth or clay core inside the dam, but A macroscopic view of the above definition will most of the dams are constructed of permeable rock bring to limelight that it is lucid and elastic. When the which by itself would be capable of retaining water definition is extrapolated, many fundamental (Steve, 2004). questions readily come to mind. These questions Concrete faced rock fill dams are constructed of include (a) what happened to the constructed dams in permeable rock fill, the impermeable membrane Nigeria? (b) Has the constructed dams impacted on being a concrete slabs on the upstream face of the the lives of the host communities inhabitants etc. The dam wall (Steve 2004). answers to these above questions will reveal whether In the literature on dams in Nigeria, the concrete arch Nigeria is witnessing development or not. dams buttress dams, earth or rock fill dams and concrete faced rock fill dams are the types that have III. DAMS AND TOPOLOGY ON DAMS been constructed by the federal government of Nigeria. They are located in different states of the The concept of dams has been address by various federation. scholars and authorities in their definitions. This is due to the perception of the scholars (Idemudia, V. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK HOLISTIC 1999). APPROACH According to Wong (2013), dams are defined as structures that regulate, store and divert water from Different scholars have written extensively on holistic rivers. Thus dams from the above definition are man approach to development. These scholars include made artificial blockades constructed across the Robert Chambers (1986), Barrow (1998) Gardiner water. (1991) etc. The authors of this paper shall adopt the The Wikipedia (2010) defined dams as a barrier holistic approach in its theoretical framework because constructed to hold water and raises its level forming of its heuristic advantage. a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water According to Barrow (1998), “there is no clear supply. definition of the concept holistic, but that the An examination of the definition of dams by Wong approach seek to understand chaotic complexity by and Wikipedia will bring to limelight that the studying a complete system, rather than adopting the definitions are similar except the sematics are usual reduction approach. This approach help on the different, both definition agrees that dams are barrier need for a detail study of all component parts that constructed across river water. makes up a system rather than study a fraction of a system”. The whole gamut must be investigated IV. TOPOLOGY OF DAMS thoroughly. It is only through this medium, that the policy of dams and the construction of dams in According to Steve templates (2004), “dams can be Nigeria and other nations can be enhanced. (Fiser, grouped according to the type of material which they 1905). are constructed. As follows concrete dams are further In applying the holistic theory to the policy on dams, grouped according to how they achieve their strength the entire nation is taking as a unit, made up of and stability”. different states, local government. These various states and local government habitants have demands. a) Concrete gravity dams These demands such as the citizens need for pipe b) Concrete arch dams borne water supply for towns and villages, supply of c) Concrete buttress dams water for irrigation of crops to help the control of d) Fill Embamement Dams floods ravaging the country leads to authoritative e) Earth and rock fill dams allocation of values by the federal government.