Livelihood Disruption, Health Risks, and Cultural Transformation: A Holistic Assessment of Kainji Dam’s Long-Term Impacts in New Bussa

Abstract

Large dams are often promoted as engines of national development, yet they frequently impose disproportionate costs on host communities. The Kainji Dam, constructed in the 1960s, remains central to Nigeria’s electricity supply but continues to generate unresolved socioeconomic, health, and cultural challenges for resettled populations in New Bussa and its environs. This article investigates this integrated impact. The study is underpinned by Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction Model and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. A mixed-methods design was adopted and a stratified sample technique was used to collected data from 378 residents through structured questionnaires on household demographics, income levels, livelihood activities, health status, and cultural practices. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with community leaders and dam officials. Respondents, largely male (59.8%) with age range of 31–40, predominantly farmers (40.2%), earner below ₦20,000 monthly (42.6%). Analyses show that only 29.6% perceived improvement in income since the dam’s construction, while 51.3% reported disrupted livelihoods in farming and fishing. Over 60% observed deforestation, biodiversity loss, and flooding as a problem. Health outcomes worsened, with 67.7% linking malaria and 63.5% cholera outbreaks to dam-related conditions, and only 48.7% rated health facilities adequate. Culturally, 67.2% reported weakened bonds and 65.1% noted disrupted traditions. The study concludes that while the dam delivers national electricity benefits, its host communities bear long-term livelihood, health, and cultural costs. The study recommends targeted livelihood restoration, improved health infrastructure, and participatory governance to mitigate displacement-induced inequalities and foster inclusive development.