Federal Republic of Nigeria
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Federal Ministry of Environment National Drought Plan November, 2018 1 FOREWARD Drought is a naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when precipitation becomes significantly below normal recorded levels, causing serious hydrological imbalance that adversely affects land resources for production systems. In Nigeria, drought is a phenomenon that affects the entire country. However, the degree of vulnerability differs, with the arid and semiarid regions being more vulnerable than the more humid south. Droughts have occurred in Nigeria during the periods 1914, 1924, 1935, 1943, 1951-1954, 1972-1973 and 1991-1995. The direct and indirect impacts of these droughts have been very enormous with respect to environmental degradation, large scale crop failure and loss of livestock, as well as human displacement and migration, diseases outbreak and death. The cumulative effects of drought gave been expressed in increasing levels of poverty and environmental degradation which will retard the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to proactively manage drought and avert the increasing poverty levels associated with it, the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the UNCCD through, considered it imperative for Nigeria to develop the "NATIONAL DROUGHT PLAN" for the country. This Drought Plan is directed towards providing the Government of Nigeria with an effective and systematic means of assessing drought conditions, developing mitigating action and programmes to reduce risks in advance of droughts and developing response options which will minimize economic stress, environmental losses, and social hardship during drought periods. This Drought Plan identifies the principal activities, different institutions to be involved at various levels, groups and regions that are most vulnerable and develops integrated actions and programmes that will reduce the vulnerability and allocate responsibilities to critical stakeholders. This strategy will go a long way in ensuring sustainable agriculture and other means of livelihood; improve the accuracy in drought prediction, improve people's social wellbeing; reduce livestock loss and minimize migration and dislocation of families and family values. Ibrahim Usman Jibrin Honourable Minister of Environment 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv.) wishes to express her profound appreciation to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), for providing the financial resources and the Guideline for the National Drought Plan (NDP) for Nigeria in June, 2018. The FMEnv. cherishes the partnership with the UNCCD in assisting the Federal Government of Nigeria to prepare a new National Drought Plan. The supportive roles of the Honourable Minister of Environment Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, the Permanent Secretary, Aliboh Leon Lawrence, the Acting Director, Ms Mabel Emmanuel, the Deputy Director Mr Bala H. Gukut, the Assistant Director, Mr Mhusaya Chindaba, Mr. Emmanuel E.Ejioye, all staff of the Directorate and schedule officers for their commitment to the success of this document. The FMEnv. would also want to thank Professor U.M. Maryah and his team comprising of Professor D.M. Gwary, Dr D.S. Msheliza, Mal. Mika’il Haruna Daya and the various experts who made numerous contributions from the Academia, the Key Stakeholders from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) particularly the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST) for their contributions, without which the National Drought Plan would not have been successful. We thankfully also acknowledge the support of the State Programme Officers (SPOs) of the Drought Frontline States for facilitating engagement with the Community Development Associations (CDAs), under the Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) and Mapping in the Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) which has been funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) during the fieldwork phase of the Plan. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWARD ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 LIST OF PLATES ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................................................................................... 11 LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................. 12 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................. 15 1.0 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................................. 18 1.1 Types of Drought ...................................................................................................................................... 18 1.2 Causes of Drought in Nigeria ................................................................................................................... 19 1.3 PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................................. 21 1.4 SCOPE ....................................................................................................................................................... 21 1.4.1 Climate ............................................................................................................................................. 22 1.4.2 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................ 23 1.4.3 Forest Communities ......................................................................................................................... 23 1.4.4 Savanna Communities ...................................................................................................................... 24 1.5 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................................... 25 1.6 IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL DROUGHT PLAN ......................................................................................... 26 1.7 PLAN DEVELOPMENT: INTRODUCTION OF THE 10-STEP PROCESS ......................................................... 27 1.8 GENDER MAINSTREAMING ...................................................................................................................... 31 2.0 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES.......................................................................................... 32 The National Water Policy ............................................................................................................................... 32 National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme (2004) .............................................................................. 33 The National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (RWSSP) .......................................................... 33 Partnerships for Expanded Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) ................................................ 34 National Forest Policy, 2006 ............................................................................................................................ 34 Drought Preparedness Plan (2007) .................................................................................................................. 35 National Action programme to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of Drought ........................ 35 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ............................................................................................... 35 National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria .......................................... 36 4 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .......................................................................................................... 36 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) .................................................................... 37 United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (1993) ......................................................................................... 37 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992 ................................................................... 37 Land Degradation Neutrality 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