Ruminations on the Blog

We've reached the end of this blog series. Over the course of this term, we have dived head-first into manifestations of hydrological interdependence at different scales, comparing examples of transboundary rivers at the inter-national level (Nile and Senegal Basins) and exploring the intra-national conflicts in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands at regional and local level.

Recurring themes of power asymmetry and hegemony have come up across these scales, standing out as barriers against effective cooperation and catalysts of conflict. We have seen how infrastructural projects can escalate tensions in different ways. With the GERD, the concerns of downstream citizens are - forcefully - voiced by traditionally hegemonic Egypt in the direction of Ethiopia, a nation growing in stature. As a consequence, full-blown war in the Nile Basin remains a real possibility. Meanwhile, in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, locals downstream have little political capital since power is hoarded by the upstream Hadejia-Jama'are RBDA. In-fighting amongst the relatively powerless has ensued as a result.

Last time, I asked what will happen if groundwater reserves for downstream households in the HNWs are exhausted over time. We can ask many other similar questions: as fadama agriculturalists start to use chemical fertilisers, will resulting eutrophication affect the HNWs' biodiversity? Will the livelihoods of fishermen be threatened? Will new conflicts emerge? Amongst other issues, we might question whether climate change-driven migration will create conflicts as societal dynamics change and resource pools become further stretched. In light of this uncertainty, cooperation is key. Agreements such as the OMVS, despite its flaws, show that benefit and burden sharing is a viable solution that can also encourage regional development.

Going full-circle to my first post, I'd like to introduce another Fela Kuti track that was recently re-released. In Original Sufferhead, he points out that Nigeria could provide all of the resources its people need: water, energy, food and housing; however, government representatives had no political will to provide these amenities and kickstart development, being more interested in enriching their own livelihoods. Things have gotten better since Fela wrote this track, but to say this issue has passed would be a lie.