Analyzing Water Management Issues Using GIS: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

In the past several years, Nigeria continues to experience robust economic development with growth rates surpassing those of her neighbors. Added to all these are pressures from rising population spread across different eco-regions and a growing demand for water use to meet the needs of different segments of the economy. With that have come water stress, limiting access, and degradation compounded by incoherent policy in water management in the country despite vast hydrological endowments. Notwithstanding policy efforts and provisions supporting proper management under various jurisdictions, water access remains a big issue in Nigeria where it is yet to be accorded priority. Seeing the various guidelines designed to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, the regulatory framework has been ineffective in containing the widespread discharge of toxics into surface water environments. The fact that current lapses in water management threaten the environment and public health in Nigeria, no effort has been made to assess the trends from a mix-scale perspective. Without that approach, managers lose sight of locational severity, the tracking of stressors and factors impeding water use. Accordingly, the study analyses water management issues in Nigeria using mix-scale method of GIS and descriptive statistics. Emphasizing the issues, environmental analysis, factors fuelling the problems and ongoing initiatives, results show declines in water quality, widespread degradation, limited access and growing demand. With the issues linked to various elements, GIS assessment reveals a steady dispersion of socio-economic factors as well as diffusion of stressors in some areas. Despite current initiatives, Nigeria’s water environment remains under stress with projected deficits. To deal with the issue, this research recommends the need for improved policy, regular monitoring, and the design of data infrastructure, sustainable use and regional cooperation.