2 July 2009
editorial
Abuja — The decision by the Federal Government to construct the Kafin Zaki Dam in Bauchi state in spite of the stiff opposition of the government and people of Yobe state raises the urgent need to communicate to those against the project the compelling reasons for the government's decision in order to promote peace, unity and development between the two states.
The dam has generated a lot of controversy and bad blood from about 1981 when President Shehu Shagari even laid its foundation stone but work never commenced. Since then, the controversy never ended but only assumed added vigour with the efforts to see the actualization of this project by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state.
What are the issues at stake? To the government and people of Yobe state, it is a matter of survival as it fears that this dam would seriously hinder the flow of water from the Jama'are River into the Yobe River. This in essence means that the people of Geidam, Gashua and all those living along the river will have their livelihood affected as they would no longer fish and irrigate their lands for their food. Already, these people are already suffering from the effects of the Tiga and Challawa dams in Kano that effectively stopped the flow of water into River Yobe from River Hadejia where the dams were constructed. Water management is the central issue in the controversy. The people need concrete guarantee that the Kafin Zaki dam will not be the source of their extinction and water will be released periodically for their livelihood.
On the other hand, the proposed dam is very crucial to the Bauchi state government because it would provide irrigation for 180,000 hectors of land to millions of families. It is also envisaged that over one million tons of sugar cane will be cultivated in addition to providing a source for promoting fishing and fishery in the state. It will also be used to generate hundreds of megawatts of electricity through hydro power plant when installed. This means the eventual industrialization of the state through the establishment of agro-allied industries. In short, this dam is perceived by the government to be its greatest source for generating wealth, employment, prosperity and enhancing the quality and living standard of its people of the state. It is therefore understandable why Bauchi state government is very persistent about the dam as its answer to poverty and misery of the people.
Thus, in order to end this controversy and bring about the amicable settlement, we recommend that the Federal Government should set up a powerful committee of men and women of integrity to reconcile the two states and allay the fears of Yobe and Bauchi states. This negotiation committee should be all embracing and should negotiate all the contending issues. As a permanent solution to the problem of water management in the area, we also suggest the creation of Jama'are/Yobe River Basin Development Authority out of the Hadejia/Jama'are River Basin Development Authority. It should encompass Geidam, Gashua and the whole of Yobe state that should be carved out of Chad Basin Authority. The new Authority will have its directors, management and staff of people from Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states who would collectively ensure the protection and promotion of each others' interests. Additionally, Yobe state should be made to benefit from the dam by establishing irrigation projects around Gashua and Geidam areas that are at the downstream of the rivers. This will further assure the people that water will be continuously released from the proposed Kafin Zaki Dam and their source of livelihood safeguarded. The Federal Government should broker and guarantee a realistic water sharing formula among the states. Such formula should be worked out and negotiated so that the Kafin Zaki Dam can become a source of joy, employment, wealth and prosperity not only to the communities that would be directly affected, but also the nation as well.
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