Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday called for urgent action to address the shrinking Lake Chad Basin.

Mr Ganduje made the call while declaring the week-long meeting of the 5th edition of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum closed in Maiduguri.

The chairman, also former executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), called for a renewed focus on the environmental challenges facing the basin and people living within it.

He reminded the meeting of the vision of LCBC’s founders—Davao Baleo of Nigeria, Ahmed Ahijo of Cameroon, Amani Diori of Niger, and Tamba Lubai of Chad—who sought to address the shrinking of Lake Chad through inter-basin water transfer.

Mr Ganduje pointed out that while security and peace-building efforts were vital, efforts to recharge the lake were equally critical.

The chairman urged continued advocacy and investment in the inter-basin water transfer project, which involved transferring water from the Mbange River in Cameroon to Lake Chad.

He said the initiative had faced significant funding challenges but remained a priority for the future of the region’s environment.

“While we focus on the security threats posed by Boko Haram and other groups, we must not forget the importance of recharging Lake Chad,” Mr Ganduje said.

He also suggested exploring additional sources of water for the basin, such as transferring water from Nigeria’s River Benue, River Bongola, and River Katuna, as part of a comprehensive solution.

The chairman thanked the host and all partners for their contributions, particularly in the discussions surrounding stabilisation, peace-building and sustainable development in the Lake Chad Basin region.

Mr Ganduje expressed gratitude to all development partners, especially the UNDP and the German, UK, Swedish, and Netherlands governments, for their financial support in implementing the regional stabilisation strategy.

“I declare this conference closed,” Mr Ganduje concluded, as delegates left with a renewed sense of urgency to address the Lake Chad Basin’s security and environmental challenges.

(NAN)