By Mahdi Waziri Isa
A renowned Nigerian Law Scholar of international repute, Professor Muhammad Tawfiq Ladan, has emphasized that water security is a central challenge for the development and stability of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
He made this assertion while presenting a keynote address on “Accelerating Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region through the Effective Implementation of the Law on Transboundary Aquifers” at an ongoing international conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He noted that climate change threatens to increase the gap between water supply and water demand in the region by exacerbating drought conditions.
Professor Ladan who is the immediate past Director General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), stated that the longer-term consequences of water scarcity extend beyond insufficient water availability, and include concerns over water quality, critical water infrastructure, and transboundary water cooperation.
He highlighted that of the 468 globally identified Transboundary Aquifers and Aquifer systems, there are over 46 of them across the MENA region, and they range in size from 340km² to 686,619km².
Professor Ladan emphasized that many groundwater aquifers underlie two or more countries and are, therefore, transboundary.
He noted that withdrawals from one country can drain life-giving water from a neighboring country, potentially leading to conflict.
Professor Ladan emphasized that transboundary aquifers have been neglected under international law until recently, despite their environmental, socio-economic, and strategic importance.
He stated that many shared transboundary aquifers in the MENA region are under environmental threats caused by climate change, growing population pressure, over-exploitation, and human-induced water pollution.
Professor Ladan emphasized the need for better and stronger regional cooperation to address water scarcity, sharing, and water resource management in the MENA region.
He argued that achieving water security is especially challenging in the region, given growing demand, declining water quality, and climate change.
Professor Ladan contended that exploring the benefits of understanding the role of, and compliance with, international water law in supporting transboundary groundwater cooperation is crucial for addressing water security challenges in the region.
He proposed that accelerating the effective implementation of the law of transboundary aquifers, especially in the absence of any legally binding multilateral regional cooperation agreement on transboundary aquifers in the MENA region, is essential for achieving water security.