Within this principle, it is vital to recognize first the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price. Past failure to recognize the economic value of water has led to wasteful and environmentally damaging uses of the resource. Managing water as an economic good is an important way of achieving efficient and equitable use, and of encouraging
conservation and protection of water resources.
According to Global Water Partnership (2000), IWRM is defined as “a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.”

Although the application of the concept of IWRM appeared to be difficult to apply in its full scope and within the boundary conditions in developing countries, the main principles remained valid over time as an ideal reference for policy and legal development.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in response to the adoption of the IWRM principles established the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission in May 2007 to spearhead IWRM application. However, the reality on the ground is still far from what is expected as ideal.

The process of coming up with best fit arrangements in the Nigerian, sometimes cumbersome, realities is still ongoing.
The efficient use of water for its different purposes is still a challenge. That has often resulted in environmental, social and economic hazards, like low level of agricultural production, inadequate access to potable water, low hydropower generation, flooding, infrastructural decadence and poor health of the citizenry, despite the huge water resources available, especially at basin levels.

Hence, the need for a more robust and proactive approach to the implementation of IWRM in Nigeria, adapted to the specific circumstances. IWRM and its operational modalities of IRBM can be particularly applicable to the management of river basins in the context of Nigeria, to address the main challenges of food insecurity, low hydropower generation, flooding and inadequate access to
clean water experienced at River Basins.