The historic Lake Chad Basin in West Africa is home to the Komadugu-Yobe Basin (KYB), which supports a population of over 15 million people.

SMEC was engaged to prepare an essential Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for integrated management of water resources in the Komadagu Yobe Basin.

 

SMEC’s Strategic Action Plan for the KYB identified more than 100 recommended projects to be undertaken over the next 25 years to increase water security and sustainability. This plan is critical to planning the environmentally sustainable use of water resources while also meeting the needs of communities who face land degradation, vulnerability to climate changes, and water scarcity.

Specialist teams completed preliminary studies for four priority investment programs:

  • Challawa Gorge catchment management
  • Jama’are river regulation
  • Harnessing water for community fisheries in Plateau State
  • Development of the Gashua irrigated agriculture project.

These projects aim to realise environmental sustainability in the basin, while improving the social development and economic livelihoods of the surrounding communities.

The SAP delivered new operational guidelines for the existing Tiga and Challawa Gorge dams to mitigate adverse impacts on the important Hadejia-Nguru wetlands downstream. A strategic environmental and social assessment was undertaken to ensure protection of the Hadejia-Nguru and Lake Chad wetlands.

The sustainable approach to integrated water resources management will not only boost livelihoods that are economically dependent on the basin’s river system, but also ensure that its ecosystems and aquaculture are protected.

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