DAM CONSTRUCTIONS AND IRRIGATION PROJECTS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA: THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES (e~*)

摘要

One of the basic needs of man is food. This has informed the efforts of governments, the world over, for sustained food production. In Nigeria, the desire/struggle for survival and the scarcity of food commodities have compelled the intensified efforts being made for self sufficiency in food production, through the establishment of irrigation schemes and construction of dams. These measures have health problems or environmental consequences in the region. This chapter presents a review of study that assessed the public health and environmental consequences of irrigation projects and dam constructions for food production in Nigeria. The study systematically reviewed the literatures spanning the past 20 years by linking public and environmental health challenges such as water borne diseases, water-related vector-borne diseases prevalence and incidence in relation to major water projects, with an emphasis on irrigation and dam constructions. The environmental challenges as a result of dam constructions were discussed and recommendations in form of suggestions on how to ameliorate the situations as part of an over- all environmental management package for the entire Nigerians were made.