Access to water in North-East Nigeria

Socio-economic problems, exposure to climate change and internal conflicts are some of the factors that have fuelled the country's crisis in recent years. The North-East, in particular, has long been at the centre of a humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency and the shrinking of the Lake Chad basin, the main water source for nearby local communities. The crisis has triggered significant migratory flows out of the region, and informal settlements have sprung up both in the North-East and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where many people are fleeing to. As a part of its response, the Federal Government of Nigeria has asked energy companies in the country to contribute through sustainable initiatives in the affected areas. For this reason, in 2018, we signed a three-year Collaboration Agreement with FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). The aim is to contribute to the humanitarian efforts by helping internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities affected by the Lake Chad crisis, as well as to promote access to clean, safe water in the country by building wells powered by photovoltaic systems. Overall,  we drilled  22 water wells for domestic use and field irrigation, reaching  about 67,000 beneficiaries.

Bama is a town in the north-eastern state of Borno, one of the three states at the epicentre of the insurrection. It is located 60km from the capital, Maiduguri, and has been attacked several times by insurgents. Through our Nigerian subsidiary Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), we commissioned a water system to improve access to water in the area. We have developed similar access-to water projects in Chibok, Biu, Damboa and Gwoza, all areas affected by the insurrection, as well as in informal settings in the Federal Capital Abuja, such as Waru and Sheretti, which were affected by the influx of IDPs fleeing the insecurity in the North-East. The wells have a storage capacity between 25,000 and 50,000 litres, as well as water purification facilities and up to 24 distribution taps.

Waru is one of the many communities in Abuja which has been significantly affected by the North-East crisis. Keeping with Nigeria’s tradition of hospitality, it  has opened its doors to others, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing from the troubled North-East. In 2018 we drilled a solar-powered water system in the community to provided safe, and clean water to around 4,000 people living there, including IDPs. This is the first  water well provided in the framework of the collaboration with FAO.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action plan signed in September 2015 by 193 UN countries. It sets out 17 goals for socio-economic development in communities and countries. Through this national project, we are helping to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation (Goal 6) and the end to all forms of poverty (Goal 1) and hunger (Goal 2). Furthermore, we are committed to promoting efforts to combat climate change (Goal 13) and to strengthen and renew the global partnership for sustainable development (Goal 17).

All water systems are solar-powered and have back-up supply systems to ensure availability in a sustainable way. Some wells are equipped with a reverse osmosis system to treat and purify water.

Since the insurrection began in 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has caused unprecedented levels of displacement in the region and severe disruption to farming, livestock management, and fishing activities. Our projects in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have helped internally displaced people (IDPs) in camps, and those returning to liberated communities, to resume normal life. The plan from the outset was to ensure that displaced people and host communities have access to clean water for domestic and agricultural use. Furthermore, the collaboration with FAO was geared towards ensuring food security and proper nutrition. The relevant local authorities were involved in the implementation of the project, and in providing training support and raising awareness among communities around the issue of water management and practices for long-term sustainability.