The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) says countries in the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) will benefit from its partnership with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) through a project called the International Transboundary Aquifer System (ITAS).
NiHSA’s Director-General, Mr. Umar Mohammed, said this during a regional workshop in Abuja focused on sharing experiences and best practices in managing underground water (groundwater).
He explained that the ITAS project is helping to restore underground water levels in the Sokoto Rima Basin, located in northwestern Nigeria.
He added that the positive results from the project could be extended to other parts of the Niger Basin, which includes nine countries in West and Central Africa.
Mohammed said one of NiHSA’s main responsibilities is to monitor and manage water that crosses borders, including rivers and underground water shared with neighboring countries.
He noted that groundwater in the Sokoto Basin dropped significantly after a river changed its path, which caused many farmers to leave their lands.
However, he said the partnership with OSS is already showing progress.
“We’ve completed about 80 to 90 percent of the project, and we are now seeing the underground water starting to rise again,” he said. “Even though it’s the rainy season now and hard to judge, we believe we’ll see a clear improvement once the rains stop.”
Talking about climate change and water shortages, Mohammed said transferring water from water-rich to water-scarce areas is possible and is already being tested in Nigeria.
He explained, “We are currently working with the Niger State Government on a pilot project to move water from areas with too much water to those facing water shortages. We’ve done the studies, and we are now planning how to implement it.”
He also said the Sokoto River changed its path due to environmental and climate issues.
“That’s why the river shifted. Now we’re working to guide it back to its natural path so it can help refill the groundwater,” he added.
Regarding farmers’ prospects during the dry season, he said groundwater levels have already improved, and they expect farmers to return to their lands soon.
Earlier, Ms. Soumaya Mouhli, a water expert from OSS, said the ITAS study looks at the risks caused by climate change and pandemics, such as water shortages and pollution.
She said the study found strong links between the Niger River and underground water sources. These connections are important for all NBA countries.
She shared that the Niger River adds around 35 million cubic meters of water to aquifers each year, while aquifers return about 650 million cubic meters to local rivers annually.
“This shows how important the connection between surface water and groundwater is,” she said.
Mouhli also said the study identified pollution risks and suggested ways to transfer water to remote areas. It also proposed tools to help respond quickly to water pollution threats.
Also speaking, Prof. Murtala Abubakar, a member of the ITAS Project’s scientific committee, said the project is vital for managing underground water in Nigeria and other countries in the Niger Basin.
He said the project is focused on improving water management in the southern part of the Basin, especially the Sokoto Basin, which is sensitive to climate changes.
“By keeping the Sokoto River flowing, we can ensure regular underground water recharge and reliable water for communities,” Abubakar said.
He emphasized that most people in the region are farmers who rely on underground water for irrigation.
“Improving groundwater levels will help bring farmlands back to life, boost farming, and improve people’s lives,” he said.
Abubakar mentioned that the project started with a \$200,000 budget, which has been spent, and talks are ongoing to release more funds.
The ITAS project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and run by OSS.
It aims to help NBA countries solve groundwater problems, improve food security, and build resilience against climate change.
