GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN NIGERIA: A STRATEGIC OVERVIEW OF MAJOR ISSUES AND TRENDS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION

ABSTRACT

The current groundwater resources development and supply in Nigeria is relatively low and needs a major transformation to supplement other water supply sources currently facing critical challenges. The paper identifies groundwater abstraction as the only road map and affordable means of providing sustainable water supply for the teeming populace in Nigeria. It also carried out extensive review of literatures on the extent and history of groundwater development in Nigeria. The availability of groundwater is considerably large in sedimentary basins, which cover some 50% of the country. But the basic information such as hydrologeological and groundwater maps is limited and investment is often poorly targeted. The sustainable development of the resources depends on many factors including the accurate understanding of the hydrogeology and the availability of skilled groundwater expertises to make better decisions. This paper highlighted some consequences of indiscriminate sinking of boreholes with attendant negative impacts such as earthquake, landslide, and damage to local ecosystems or to human health among others.The paper also providesstrategic plans for future groundwater developmental progress and protection given the scale of groundwater development in Nigeria. Such plan must recognise the issue of particular concern to Nigeria, such as: the requirement to develop sustainable and cost effective water supplies across all hydrogeological environments; appropriately managing and protecting groundwater resources given the rate of rapid poorly planned urbanisation and the expansion in on-site sanitation; and the imperatives of water security from household to national levels.

Keywords: Groundwater Development, Sustainability, Water Supply, Groundwater Potential, Groundwater Resources, Contamination