Mamman Nuhu, the executive secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has called for strong cross-border cooperation to end decade-long Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

The cross-border cooperation is a critical component of the revised Regional Stabilisation Strategy (RSS), designed to restore peace, stability and bolster economic transformation of the war torn region.

Mr Nuhu said this in a presentation at the ongoing 5th Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno.

He said the challenges bedevilling the region including terrorism, climate change and migration transcended national boundaries, hence, a unified approach to resolve them.

“Challenges such as terrorism, climate change and migration do not respect national borders. To effectively address them, robust cross-border cooperation is imperative.

“These issues affect all countries within the Lake Chad Basin, and require collective action to mitigate their impact on local communities,” he said

The secretary said that emerging security dynamics and the worsening impact of climate change made it clear that regional rather than national approach was essential, as the cross-border cooperation would tackle the challenges.

According to Mr Nubu, the revised strategy will incorporate lessons learned from the first five years of the implementation, and aim to strengthen the mechanisms for collaboration between the governments of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republics.

Mr Nuhu underscored the importance of local ownership to ensure the success of the strategy, and called for continued leadership by state governors and local authorities in the development and execution of Territorial Action Plans (TAPs).

This localised approach, he said, would ensure that the strategies were not only relevant to the unique needs of each region but also garners local buy-in and commitments.

He said that civil society organisations played a critical role in the stabilisation process, as they served as essential bridge builders between local communities, governments and international partners.

“By amplifying the voices of those directly affected by the crises, civil society provides valuable insights into local dynamics, which are crucial for shaping effective and sustainable interventions.

“A significant area of focus for Ambassador Nuhu was the need for a stronger integration of humanitarian, development, and peace-building efforts,” he said.

He stressed the need for a cohesive approach in the second phase of the strategy to address the identified gap in the implementation of its first phase, adding that the approach would ensure that humanitarian aid, development efforts, and peace building programmes were aligned to maximise impact on the communities.

Mr Nuhu pointed out that women were disproportionately affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly through forced marriages, stigmatisation and the challenges faced by children born in captivity.

He said that addressing these issues in a meaningful way was crucial to the long-term success of the stabilisation efforts in the region.

The secretary further called for sustained commitment by government agencies, international partners, civil society organisations and local communities, to ensure successful implementation of the second phase of the strategy. 

(NAN)