An integrated approach was used to introduce the agency-Farmer-Joint-Irrigation-Management (AFJM) concept in Hadejia-Valley-Irrigation-Project (HVIP). The intervention was undertaken between 1996 to 2002 covering a period of eleven cropping seasons (i.e. 6 wet and 5 dry seasons). Specific modules in the areas of system operation network maintenance, and agricultural production and marketing were designed and presented to the agency and users for familiarization and use. This was undertaken in two stages. First stage involve preparation of farmers seasonal plans based on wishes and expectations, while the second stage involve joint revision of the seasonal plans by both agency managers and users through negotiation, prioritization, available resource to reflect field realities. Results from the intervention revealed that both the Irrigation Agency (IA) and Water Users Associations (WUAs) adopted the AFJM concept at varying degrees. The IA was reorganized resulting in the creation of a WUA unit where activities relating to WUAs are organized and co-ordinated. This organizational reform enabled the IA to improve its Manpower quality ratio (MPQR), Financial Autonomy Factor (FAF), and Financial-Self-Sufficiency-Factor (FSSF) from means of 20.0, 0.0, and 14.7% to means of 24, 14.0 and 26%, respectively. The IA also witnessed increase in Cost Recovery Ratio (CRR) from a mean of 47 to 72%. Farmers were similarly organized into eight functional WUAs registered with Local and State Governments. The WUAs grew in membership from a mean of 82 to 146 per association from which an Internal Revenue Generation (IRG) of 58% was achieved. A mean Financial Viability Index (FVI) of 40% per WUA was also attained. Assessment of the AFJM concept showed that the approach necessitated improvement in the quality of irrigation services rendered by the irrigation agency. It also provided the needed incentive for effective user participation, which led to joint sharing of costs and responsibilit