For several years, the Hadejia -Nguru wetland was delightful because of its rich agricultural potentials. It is second to Mambila Plateau in the whole of northern region in terms of size. At present the Hadejia-Nguru wetland spreads across 16 local government areas of both Jigawa and Yobe states. The Hadejia-Nguru wetland thrives because of its rich fish ponds and fadamas as well as its adaptation for all season farming,and grazing of live-stock . It is also reported that the wetland accounts for about 6 per cent of the Nigerian fish market. Unfortunately, due to poor conservation and management, the fortunes of this asset is on the decline.
Against the backdrop of this failure, three out of the four major rivers emanating from River Hadejia through the wetland are now blocked by water hyaccint, and typha grass while the fourth annually overflows its banks, destroying crops, and communities. The wetland is in a steady decline, resulting in impoverishment of the area. Violent conflicts between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen are rife. Rice production has declined, and so has revenue from produce which has declined from N5.9 million to N0.96 million naira per village annually.
This decline, some experts claim, was as a result of international conspiracy aimed at weakening and destroying the agricultural potentials of the region. For the thousand years that the wetland has existed, a 60km journey between Hadejia and Nguru on boat was un-impeded. The invasion of typha grass and other aquatic weeds that have plagued the entire region was alien and have only become noticeable in the early 80s, shortly after the defunct Hadejia Nguru Conservation Project established its operational base in the region, principally for the conservation and protection of birds.
Honourable Bala Muhammad Guri, former vice chairman of Guri local government of Jigawa State told Vanguard that all has not been the same ever since the European tourists came to the wetland region with sophisticated electronic devices, boats, and vehicles. They employed local staff and patroled the region for decades. Guri, a geographer, stated that with the full backing of European Union efforts were made principally on protection and conservation of migrating birds to the detriment of all season farming, fishing and live-stock development.
During this period, innocent local hunters were harassed and molested by forest guards on their pay roll. They often stormed village markets in search for menu made of bird delicacies; arrested such food vendors and prosecuted them . This he said has generated bad blood between the people and the European Union.
Guri also believes that desert encroachment has led to the loss of over 90 per cent of farmland in the region, displacement in 100 villages, limited water supply to some parts, migration of nomads and invasion of quela birds thus exposing the region to famine.
But a spokesperson of The Joint Wetland Project (JWEP) who is also responsible for the management of the defunct Hadejia-Nguru Conservation Project, while faulting Guri's explanation of the problems in the area, dismissed the conspiracy theory adding that the project works closely with the European Union and relevant communities on poverty reduction. JWEP played the role of catalyst,complementing efforts geared towards poverty reduction, and natural resources management, he said. JWEP argued that typha grass is an essential feature of the wetland adding that it became a nuisance as a result of poor management of water from two major dams in Kano.
In any case, the problem facing the wetland region to say the least is monumental. Life is steadily grinding to a halt. Vanguard learnt that many school children around the wetland have abandoned classes to keep vigil on farmland, following the invasion of quela birds.
Investigations revealed that these children normally take positions on the farmland between 6:00am and 6:00pm daily to ward-off the rampaging birds. Vanguard also discovered that the children with a device made-up of polythene bags have fenced each farmland. This device is manipulated from a control aparatus intermittently to generate noise that scares the birds away. According to the Bulama of Sabongeri, Malam Ibrahim who rationalised the engagement of pupils in checking the invasion of quela birds; learning is only possible when there is food.
Interestingly, communal effort appears to be yielding positive results since approximately 25km of the 60km channel invaded by typha grass along Burum Gana within Guri and Kirikasama local government areas of Jigawa State has been cleared. This effort has resulted in the irrigation of farms in the area. The Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands can be much better and viable with support from the Federal Government.
