This Status Report of the public irrigation sector in Nigeria was carried out to comprehensively assess the status of selected public irrigation sector schemes covering the whole of Nigeria. The output of the status report assisted the FAO in making the guidelines and strategy for the preparation of the National Irrigation Policy and Strategy

 Some state schemes, private schemes as well as some Fadama (low lying flood plains) schemes were also reviewed taking into consideration the fact that an irrigation and drainage policy will affect these schemes as well.

  This report is a consolidated report that summarises, the finding of the review of the individual schemes and gives suggestions for improvement where warranted. The individual scheme reports are contained in Volume II to this report.

 To give a broader understanding of the public irrigation sector in Nigeria, it was found necessary to carry out some specialist studies. These specialist reviews included Dam Safety Appraisal of dams that are the headworks of irrigation schemes, soil fertility, socio-economic status, environmental impact, farm equipment machinery and plant, land ownership, financial management, irrigation institutions and policy. The output of these specialist reviews are summarised in this report. The report can be viewed here and here