Rangeland problems in the Kainji Lake Basin area of Nigeria

There is a continous overlap of interests within the Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria, resulting in conflicts between land users such as the nomadic Fulanis, peasant farmers and wildlife/forestry conservation authorities. The basin is a major agricultural crop producing area of Nigeria. It is also a main traditional source of dry season supply of pasture and water for the migratory livestock from the Sudan and Sahelian vegetation zones in the north. Within the basin is the Kainji Lake National Park which is fast becoming a big-game tourist centre of international standard.Between Yelwa and Jebba, and within a distance of approximately 50 km around the lake and the River Niger, about 200 000 cattle, 100 000 sheep, 25 000 other livestock (goats, horses, donkeys and dogs), as well as 10 000 wildlife comprised of 14 species are estimated.The physical developments and proposals for agricultural improvement by the Niger River Basin Development Authority are reported upon. Recommendations (with national implications) are advanced ffor eliminating conflicts in the utilization of rangeland within the basin.