1. ZAMFARA DAM, NIGERIA Olorunfemi, F.B Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, Nigeria. ESRC Project Kickoff Workshop, London

2. Nigeria Nigeria is a country in dire need of development infrastructure especially roads, power and agriculture Nigeria has accepted to embrace the goals of sustainable development in line with the 1972 World Conference on the Environment and Development (WCED) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD 2002) The objectives are to integrate the environmental, social and economic aspects of development in a holistic manner Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

3. ZAMFARA STATE Located in the North west of Nigeria About 3 million people Largely agrarian Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

4. Location and Administration Located between latitudes 10 � 50'N anc 13 � 38'N. and longitudes 4 � 16'E and 7 � 13‘E The State covers a land area of 38,418sq. Km It is bounded to the North by Sokoto State, Kebbi and Niger States to the southwest, Kaduna State to the South East and Katsina to the East Administrative Areas: The state has 14 LGAs, with Gusau as the State capital Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

5. Map of Zamfara State Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

6. Agriculture, Forestry and Other Basic Activities Zamfara State is blessed with large variety of crops. Nearly four million hectares of land are cultivated. This represents about 30 percent of the total land area. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of Zamfara State and engages about 90 percent of the people. Indeed, agriculture provides foodstuff industrial raw materials and employment opportunities to the people. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

7. Physical location attributes Geology and Relief: the State characterized by very old igneous and metamorphic rocks, formed during the precambrian Paleo era. Climate: The state enjoys a tropical type of climate, largely controlled by two masses, namely, the Tropical Maritime from the state Atlantic and the Tropical Continental from the Sahara and the Middle East. Temperature: The hottest months in Zamfara state are March and April, that is just before the onset of the first rains. Max and Min Temp (360C and 170C Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

8. Physical location attributes Rainfall: The mean annual rainfall in the State varies 579mm to 1,020mm. The onset of the rains, on the average, is between mid March and May, lasting for about six months till the end of October Soils: Two major soil types ferruginous tropical soils and lithosols dominate the State. The soils are characterised by a sandy surface horizon, with a clayey subsoil, both of which are fertile for agricultural production Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

9. Physical location attributes Vegetation: The vegetation of the State consists of Sudan and Northern Guinea Savannah. They are green in the rainy season with fresh leaves, but become dry during the dry season Ecological Problems: Zamfara State suffers from desertification, and environmental degradation arising from indiscriminate felling of trees for fuelwood. Problem of erosion and occasional floods Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

10. The Dam Built by China Geo-Engineering Corp. (Beijing) 100MW hydropower plant for the Power Holding Co. of Nigeria and the Zamfara state government The dam is located in Gotwa Dam village It has the potential to provide irrigation for 10,000 hectares of land for the production of rice and tomatoes downstream from the 2 billion-cum dam The USD 163 million Zamfara project is scheduled to start providing power to the national grid in the first quarter of 2011. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

11. The Dam The project is seen as being more appropriate for the region compared to some of the ambitious thermal power projects launched in other Nigerian states that have had a checkered success rate in coming to completion. The project cost less than a thermal plant of similar capacity Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

12. The Dam Finance for the project came from the China- Import/Export Bank and was guaranteed by Sofitel Capital Corporation and Intercontinental Bank Plc, who will maintain the project for seven years There were discussions between Zamfara's government and PHCN on a power-purchase agreement to cover the plant's output. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

13. Conclusion Zamfara dam is a project that is very much relevant to the needs of the state in areas of agriculture and power Outcome of this study would in the long run contribute to better operations and management of the Chinese dams in the selected countries Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research