Drought Conditions and Management Strategies in Nigeria Presented by Dr. John Onyekuru Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria
BACKGROUND Droughts occur throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. They are more frequent and much more severe in the Sudano ‐ Sahelian States of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe and Borno.
Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Systems Usually carried out by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. The longest drought episodes in the region lasted for nearly a decade and half (1981 ‐ 1997). The mean annual Standard Precipitation Index ( SPI) values ranged between (–0.3 and –1.47) with 1987 recording the severest drought episode throughout the period under consideration. (figure 2)
Weather bulletins like Flood and Drought Monitoring is one of NiMet’s important early warning tools and are used to provide information on different types of drought. JUNE, 2014 JANUARY - JUNE, 2014 14 14 KAT KAT SOK NGU SOK NGU GUS GUS KAN KAN 12 12 MAI MAI POT POT ZAR ZAR YEL YEL KAD KAD BAU GOM BAU GOM 10 10 JOS JOS BID BID MNA MNA YOL YOL ABU ABU ILR ILR S IBI S IBI EXTREME 8 8 EXTREME S OSH LOK OSH LOK S MKD MKD 2 E IBA E 2 IBA SEVERE ABE AKU ABE AKU SEVERE N N 1.5 IJB 1.5 IJB T T MODERATE IKJ IKJ ENU ENU E E MODERATE LAG BEN LAG BEN 1 W 1 W 6 IKO 6 IKO MILD MILD 0.5 WAR OWE 0.5 WAR OWE NORMAL NORMAL CAL CAL PHC PHC -0.5 S -0.5 S MILD MILD S S -1 -1 E E 4 4 MODERATE MODERATE N N -1.5 -1.5 Y Y SEVERE SEVERE R R 0 220 440 660 880 -2 -2 0 220 440 660 880 D EXTREME D KM KM EXTREME -4 -4 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 APRIL - JUNE, 2014 JULY, 2013 - JUNE, 2014 14 14 KAT SOK KAT NGU SOK NGU GUS KAN GUS 12 KAN MAI 12 POT MAI POT ZAR YEL ZAR YEL KAD KAD BAU GOM 10 BAU GOM JOS BID 10 JOS MNA BID YOL MNA ABU YOL ABU ILR S IBI EXTREME ILR 8 S OSH LOK IBI MKD 2 E 8 IBA OSH LOK SEVERE N MKD ABE AKU S EXTREME 1.5 IBA IJB T S MODERATE ABE AKU 2 IKJ E ENU E IJB LAG BEN 1 SEVERE W N IKJ MILD ENU 6 IKO 1.5 LAG BEN T MODERATE 0.5 WAR OWE 6 IKO E NORMAL 1 W WAR MILD CAL S -0.5 OWE PHC 0.5 S MILD CAL PHC NORMAL E -1 4 -0.5 S MODERATE N MILD -1.5 S Y 4 -1 SEVERE E MODERATE R N 0 220 440 660 880 -2 -1.5 D EXTREME Y SEVERE KM -4 R 0 220 440 660 880 -2 2 D 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 EXTREME KM -4 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
S/N %tage shortfall Price/100kg(#) Commodity Differentials Impacts of Drought A localized drought occurred in Yobe State in 2004 resulting in heavy losses in crops, livestock and fodder, fishing activities, Nov.2003 Nov.2004 biodiversity and livelihoods . The local government areas severely Millet 1,600= 3,700= 2,100= 131.3 affected in the state included: 1 . Yusufari, Yunuri, Karasuwa, Machina, Geldam, Nguru, Bursari, Bade and Jakusko. 2. Sorghum 1,350= 3,200= 1,550= 114.8 The most vulnerable groups are 3. Paddy Rice 3,000= 6,400= 3,400= 113.3 Women and children. • Influx of aliens from neighboring 4. Maize 2,200= 4,800= 2,600= 118.2 Niger Republic to the country led to drastic rise in the prices of 5. Cow Pea 4,000= 5,200= 1,200= 30 commodities (Tab.2). 6. Groundnut 4,800= 8,000= 3,200= 66.6 • FMEnv, 2004
Vulnerability Assessment • The Sudano ‐ Sahelian regions of Nigeria are the most vulnerable areas to drought and desertification. • The most vulnerable sectors to drought in Nigeria are water resources, agriculture and fisheries, energy, forestry and biodiversity. • The women and children are the most vulnerable group.
Emergency Relief and Drought Response • The National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA) is the institution mandated to handle disasters in Nigeria. The institution is responsible for providing relief in times of drought. Relief materials dispatched to affected communities are mainly food stuffs. • In Yobe state, the drought that occurred resulted in the loss of about 3,142 metric tons agricultural produce. Relief materials given to affected communities amounted to about N40.4million. In addition about N120million was provided by the Federal Ministry of Environment for provision of irrigation equipment. • The agency collaborates with stakeholders to undertake hitch ‐ free direct distribution of relief to the affected persons. Stakeholders include: State Emergency Management Agency (SEPA), the Red Cross Society, NGOs, CBOs, affected Local Government Officials, Opinion leaders/Traditional Rulers of the affected communities and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps. The distribution of relief items is based on request from affected communities. • In addition to NEMA, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Strategic Grain Reserve as one of the coping measures to reduce risks of drought.
Drought Alleviating Practices Responses embarked by government include the following; • Institutional Arrangements leading to the creation of Federal Ministry of Environment and the Drought and Desertification Amelioration Department. • Management of Water Resources by the establishment of River Basin Development Authorities to promote sustainable utilization of water resources in the dry land. • Use of Drought tolerant (hybrids) crop varieties in the drought prone regions by farmers. • Production of National Action Plan(NAP) as part of the National Economic and Environmental Protection plan and making the NAP Coherent with other environmental strategy and planning framework • Linking the NAP with National, intra ‐ Regional and local approaches. Measures taken within the framework of NAP include adequate Diagnosis of past experience
Drought Alleviating Practices • New projects/strategies initiated as part of implementation process since the last NAP report in 2002 includes: • Sand dune fixation • Rangeland establishment • Oasis inventory and rehabilitation • Drought forecasting • Formulation of drought and desertification policies • Development of National drought preparedness plan • Development of Drought and Desertification policy • Rainwater harvesting • The Great Green Wall program to halt desert encroachment • Preparation and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to halt the loss of biodiversity.
The Need for Knowledge and Skills on Drought Management • Strengthen the capacity of the Federal Ministry of Environment (Drought and Desertification Amelioration Department) to coordinate activities for combating desertification and mitigating the impacts of drought. This will enhance response effectiveness, adequate preparedness planning and maximize mitigation efforts. • Capacity building for drought monitoring, assessment and forecasting particularly for NiMet as an institution using climate elements in this respect for proper implementation of Drought monitoring and preparedness plan. • Upgrading and modernizing the hydro meteorological observation networks. • Strengthen the capacity of the Federal Ministry of Environment (Department of Forestry: Conservation) to undertake Biodiversity Assessment and Economic Valuation of Biodiversity for proper management of biodiversity at all times and its integration into national accounting and planning. • Enhancing synergy, cooperation and networking between various hydro ‐ agro ‐ meteorological sectors, and other relevant stakeholders .
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