10%

Mallam Bello:

The return of a son of Wammako thanks to the river’s revival

By IW:LEARN

October 29^th, 2025

Reviving Rivers, Restoring Lives: The Story of Wammako Under the ITTAS Pilot Project

Forced to Leave

The river that once nourished the region—once the lifeline of Wammako’s agricultural life—had gradually dried up. Rainfall became increasingly unpredictable, wells ran dry, and crop yields dropped sharply. The land had turned to dust.

“I remember the day I left my farm. My father had cultivated that land all his life. But without water, there was no future here,”

recalls Mallam Bello.

Driven by drought and hardship, he moved to the outskirts of Sokoto city, surviving on small, irregular jobs. He worked on construction sites, then as a street vendor. Far from his land and extended family, he lived with deep nostalgia for his lost home and livelihood. Every rainy season sparked a flicker of hope, but the river never returned.

Hope Reborn with ITTAS

Things began to change when the ITTAS project (Improving IWRM, knowledge-based Management and Governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudéni / Tanezrouft Aquifer System | ITTAS) launched a series of targeted interventions to restore the region’s hydrological balance, with the support of GEF/UNEP.

Project experts identified the root causes of the river’s disappearance: overuse of groundwater resources, lack of natural recharge infrastructure, and deforestation of the riverbanks.

To address these issues, ITTAS constructed several groundwater recharge structures in the area:

Check dams to capture and slow down runoff during the rainy season;
Infiltration ponds and recharge basins to help water seep into the aquifer;
Reforestation of riverbanks to reduce erosion and improve water retention;
Community awareness campaigns for sustainable water resource management.

Within just a few years, the impact became clear. Wammako’s river began to flow again seasonally, wells were replenished, and the soil regained its fertility.

Mallam Bello’s Return

When the news reached Sokoto, Mallam Bello did not hesitate. He returned to his village with hope in his heart. When he arrived, he found a community in motion, cultivable land, and—most importantly—water.

“When I saw the river flowing again, I cried. I thought: ‘This is a miracle—but a miracle made by people.’”

With help from his family, he reclaimed his old farmland and resumed cultivation—millet, sorghum, and vegetables. He now serves on the local water management committee established through ITTAS, ensuring the resource is protected and shared sustainably for generations to come.

The Sokoto River flows again. Once dry for most of the year, it now brings life back to communities thanks to ITTAS interventions. Photo by Prof. Murtala Gada, Nigeria.

A Letter of Gratitude from the Community

Mr. Bashiru Abdullahi, a respected local leader and member of the Wammako community, shared another powerful testament to the project’s impact:

“Following years of struggle and water scarcity, the communities of Wammako sent a letter of appreciation to NIHSA (Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency) to express their deep gratitude for the restoration of water flow to the rivers in their area.”

This heartfelt letter came in response to an earlier formal complaint issued by the same communities, which raised concerns about the blockage of water resources supplying several villages along the corridor running from Sokoto North to the Wammako area.

“For years, we watched helplessly as our rivers dried up. That letter of complaint was our cry for help. Now, our letter of thanks is our way of saying: you heard us, and you acted. We’re deeply grateful,”

Mr. Bashiru Abdullahi added.

One Story Among Many

Mallam Bello’s journey is just one among many. Thanks to ITTAS, dozens of displaced families have returned to Wammako and surrounding villages. The connection between water, land, and the dignity of farmers has never been clearer.

“Water is life. And here, it also means coming home.”

Wammako Pilot: A Replicable Approach for Climate-Resilient Water Systems

The pilot demonstration project achieved significant progress in understanding and managing water resources within the catchment area. Key scientific outcomes included the delineation of groundwater aquifer zones, identification of the cause of Sokoto River course diversion, and the mapping of groundwater chemistry, contamination zones, and flow dynamics, leading to the development of a reference document for improved water planning.

Through various interventions, the project supported the restoration of water balance between surface and groundwater. The Sokoto River and its tributaries, previously dry for much of the year, now experience more stable seasonal flows — enabling dry-season irrigation over 10,000 hectares of farmland and recharging shallow aquifersfor improved groundwater availability.

The project also focused heavily on community engagement, conducting training and awareness campaigns to reduce pollution from agricultural chemicals, prevent harmful watercourse diversions, and promote sustainable land and water use. These actions have contributed to enhanced climate resilience and reduced environmental degradation.

Furthermore, the initiative promoted the integrated use of surface and groundwater resources, supporting livelihood restoration, agricultural productivity, and food security. Finally, the project undertook environmental rehabilitation, including the restoration of two water wells and construction of injection wells to enhance aquifer recharge.

About the project

The NB-ITTAS Project supports sustainable water management in the Niger River Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudéni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (ITTAS) across 11 African countries. Led by OSS, NBA, UNESCO, and UNIDO, it promotes knowledge-based IWRM and strengthens water governance for community and ecosystem resilience. Key achievements include a validated TDA/SAP, hydrogeological modelling, and six pilot sites testing best practices in groundwater management, pollution control, and climate adaptation. The project contributes to SDGs 2, 6.5, and 13, and demonstrates scalable solutions to transboundary water challenges in the Sahel.

For more information, please contact: Lamine Babasy/Coordinator: [lamine.babasy@oss.org.n]

Read more stories from the NB-ITTAS project:

Footnotes

Words by Lilia Benzid, Mohamedou Sy and Abdel Kader Dodo. Photo cover: Mallam Bello stands on his reclaimed farmland in Wammako — 15 years after leaving due to drought. Today, water flows again, and hope has returned, by Joseph Towo, Nigeria.