In a move towards revitalising the Lake Chad Basin, leaders from the region converge on Maiduguri, Borno State, for a three-day engagement to find a permanent way of recharging Lake Chad for the economic growth of the member states. LADI JOSSY reports:
The 5th edition of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum has re-echoed its commitment to advancing stabilisation, recovery, and resilience, while advocating for a unified digital tracking system to monitor human movement and tackle the proliferation of arms in the region.
Obviously, the region is faced with multi-sectoral challenges, ranging from drug abuse to insecurity-Boko-Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP)-, floods, climate change, massive displacements, inconsistent of implementation of policies by the member states, food insecurity, amongst which have significantly worsened the situations.
Themed: ‘Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-Border Cooperation, Security, and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community,’ the 5th Forum, which was set up to address the persistent regional challenges is not just a meeting, it was a platform to forge actionable partnerships, align strategies, and mobilise the resources needed to transform the Lake Chad Basin into a region of peace, stability and opportunity.
BusinessDay carefully monitored the three-day activities by the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum (LCBGF); about 1,000 people were attendance. These include: governors, security heads, development partners, experts, traditional rulers, women-led organisations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, the people from the Academia, politicians, youths, among others ended last Friday in Maiduguri, Borno State, North East, Nigeria. Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, was the chief host, and emerged as chairman of the Forum.
The meeting was convened by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and hosted by the Government of Yobe State (Nigeria), with support from the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Forum declares 13 -point resolutions for stabilisation
The Forum made this declaration at the end of the meeting which had in attendance governors from countries bordering the Lake Chad Basin.
The communique was read by Brig. Gen. Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, the governor of Diffa Province of Niger Republic after the meeting agreed to ensure that member states strengthen strategic support to, and operational capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and/or invest in transborder security and also agreed to ensure that member states effectively occupy the Lake Chad Islands as a means of strengthening transboundary security, with a focus on securing and controlling the waterways as well as ensure that remnant of all Non-State Armed Groups are completely neutralised in all the member states.
In the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the 8-governor Forum commended the significant contributions and achievements of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the troop-contributing countries of the LCBC—Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Benin—in combating non-state armed groups, notably Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“These efforts have greatly reduced the threat posed by these terrorist groups, enhanced civilian protection, and compelled many members of these groups to surrender,” the Forum acknowledged.
The Forum emphasized its commitment to redouble efforts and further strengthen the MNJTF and other efforts to completely eliminate the continued threat posed by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist groups in the region.
They are also to intensify efforts to combat illicit trade of arms, and illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse, especially among youth and in addition scale up climate resilient initiatives and environmental protection efforts to support the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad Basin ecosystems and biodiversity.
The forum in the communique also identified the need to strengthen women and youth engagement in stabilisation, recovery, and resilient initiatives, ensuring their needs and priorities are effectively addressed.
The regional group spoke on the need to enhance the role of civil society and traditional authorities in designing, implementing, and monitoring regional stabilisation, recovery, and resilience efforts through working with the LCBC on advocacy and fundraising with partners and donors towards continuation of stabilisation activities in Niger.
Other things the forum agreed to undertake include facilitating the establishment of “Free trade Zones” in the Lake Chad region as a means of promoting cross-border trade and economic connectivity as well as invest in the construction and/or rehabilitation of cross-border roads as a means of promoting transboundary trade and strengthening security.
It also agreed on updating and facilitating implementation of the Territorial Action Plans (TAPs) to align with the adjusted RS SRR and strengthen resource mobilisation efforts through the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund (SMDF) and the Nexus Funding Facility (NFF), and other regional funding initiatives to drive impactful and sustained progress.
It also appreciated the Governor of Hadjer-Lamis, Ildjima Abdraman for her leadership and commitment in steering the LCB Governors Forum between 2023 and 2024 and commended the acceptance of the chairmanship of the LCB Governors’ Forum by the Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State for the next two years.
Cross-border collaboration as a driver to economic recovery – Buni
In his inaugural speech, Governor Buni said that he would work closely with all security agencies and stakeholders to wipe out remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP hibernating in the region, so as to ensure resettlement of displaced persons, accompanied by comprehensive strategies that restore livelihoods, rebuild infrastructure, and foster social cohesion.
“I am deeply honored by this trust and humbled to accept the responsibility of chairing this distinguished Forum for the next two years. This nomination is not merely a recognition of my personal commitment but a testament to the collective resolve of all stakeholders to forge a resilient, peaceful, and prosperous Lake Chad Basin,” he said.
He added: “Over the past few days, we have deliberated extensively on how to address the challenges facing the region while building on the gains we have made so far. Our discussions have reaffirmed the critical need to strengthen governance and stabilisation frameworks as a foundation for lasting peace and security in the Lake Chad Basin.
“We recognise that effective governance, supported by inclusive policies and coordinated efforts, is essential in restoring stability to affected communities. At the centre of our recovery efforts lies a commitment to durable solutions that go beyond temporary relief.”
He reiterated that “The resettlement of displaced persons must be accompanied by comprehensive strategies that restore livelihoods, rebuild infrastructure, and foster social cohesion. Ensuring that returning populations have access to essential services and economic opportunities is key to preventing further displacement and securing long-term stability.
“Equally important is the drive for socio-economic recovery, which requires deliberate investments in trade corridors and agro-pastoral initiatives to revitalize local economies. Furthermore, we are committed to strengthening cross-border collaboration as a driver to economic recovery, and stimulate commerce to enhance regional integration and cooperation.
“As we conclude this Forum, it is imperative that we move beyond dialogue to concrete and collective action. Let us ensure that the resolutions adopted here are implemented at all levels.”
Buni reaffirmed that “As leaders of the Lake Chad Basin region, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening security and stability by facilitating the reinforcement of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and expanding community-based security initiatives. We shall actively advocate for increased financial and technical support.”
50 million people are food insecure in West Africa – FAO
Kofi Dominic, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative, raised an alarm at a panel discussion that almost 50 million people were currently suffering food insecurity in West Africa region.
Dominic said that the figure indicated a sharp increase of 35 million in just five years. Therefore, called for an urgent intervention to prevent further deterioration of the region’s food crisis.
The envoy noted that there were only five years remaining to meet the global target of zero hunger by 2030. Dominic called on the donor agencies, governments and private sector stakeholders to take immediate action.
“In 2020, there were 15 million people in food insecurity across West Africa. Today, that number has surged to 50 million despite all efforts in agriculture, livestock, and food distribution,” Dominic said.
He attributed the crisis to three major factors: conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, which had severely disrupted food production and supply chains across the region.
Collaboration, synergy will restore peace – CSOs
Also, the Civil Society Organisations of Lake Chad Basin region issued a call-to-action communique to the leaders of LCBC and LCBGF to renew the commitment to collaborate with the governors, LCBC, and other partners to build a future of peace and resilience in the region.
The coalition said that for over a decade, the Lake Chad region has been hard hit by the Boko Haram insurgency and other related conflicts, as well as other consequences related to climate change, notably floods, drought, etc.
They lamented that the impacts of these situations range from massive internal and cross-border displacement to the destruction of the social fabric to killings, human rights violations, the disruption of public services, the reduction of arable land as well as the limitation of the capacities of government institutions to adequately address the issues leading to the protracted humanitarian crisis in the region.
They maintained that in response to the security and conflict challenges, the governments of the four countries bordering Lake Chad have implemented the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation and Recovery, which sets out a solid framework to address the region’s complex and urgent security, humanitarian, and development challenges.
“It also underlines the need for practical, multisectoral and coordinated interventions at local, national, and cross-border levels and the imperatives for humanitarian, development, and peace actors to work together for long-term stabilisation, recovery, and resilience.
The implementation of the strategy has demonstrated the commitment of local and national civil society organisations (CSOs) as well as other state and private actors. In 2024 the Regional Strategy was revised and will be implemented until 2030.
At the CSO Forum leading to the 5th edition of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, the various civil society actors from the four (4) affected countries met to reflect on progress made and their engagement in the future.
They explained that CSOs’ in-depth knowledge of contexts, proximity to affected populations, and their extraordinary capacity to assess needs and develop responses to strengthen resilience, particularly for people with special needs, notably women, children, young people and people living with disabilities.
The group noted that “CSOs collaborate well with authorities and other actors and stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of populations, also the expertise of CSOs in community mobilisation, conflict prevention and management, as well as the socio-economic empowerment of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups at the local, national, and regional levels; and CSOs in the Lake Chad Basin are available and committed to participating fully alongside other actors in implementing the revised regional strategy.”
Best way to defeat insurgency is through dialogue – Zulum
On the sidelines of the event, the Governors’ Forum of the Lake Chad Basin on Thursday officially launched the Community-Based Reconciliation and Reintegration (CBRR) Policy and the Transitional Justice Framework in a major step towards fostering peace and stability in the region.
The initiative was inspired by the successful adoption of the “Borno Model,” conceived and implemented by the administration of Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, aimed to address the challenges posed by Boko Haram insurgency through a comprehensive, community-driven approach.
Governor Zulum, during the launch of the documents, highlighted the origins of the CBRR initiative, recalling its inception in 2015 during his tenure as Commissioner for Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement.
“We introduced the idea of community-based reconciliation and reintegration with the support of the UNDP and European Union through a series of validation workshops within and outside the state, the policy was ultimately approved during the administration of Vice President Kashim Shettima as governor,” Zulum stated.
Zulum emphasized that kinetic military actions alone are insufficient to end the insurgency, underscoring the need for socio-economic and political strategies to address the crisis.
Upon assuming office, he led a comprehensive review of the CBRR framework to incorporate feedback from key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, victims, federal government representatives, the military, UN agencies, and international NGOs. The result was a set of 17 strategic recommendations aimed at achieving lasting peace.
“A key resolution from the forum was the decision to accept and reintegrate willing Boko Haram and ISWAP defectors while establishing a traditional justice mechanism to facilitate reconciliation. The best way to defeat insurgency is through dialogue,” Zulum said.
Governor Zulum expressed satisfaction that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has adopted Borno’s model to create a regional framework for reintegration.
The governor also announced significant progress in the implementation of the initiative, including: the mass surrender of over 200,000 repentant insurgents and their families in the past two years, sustained community engagement efforts, provision of psycho-social support and empowerment programmes to aid reintegration.
He emphasized that thousands of the repentant insurgents have been successfully reintegrated into their communities.
Ganduje seeks recharge of L/Chad from Nigeria, CAR, Congo water bodies
The National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has advocated for the recharge of the shrinking Lake Chad from water bodies in Nigeria, Central African Republic (CAR) and the Republic of Congo to enable it restore its age-old critical economic significance in Africa. The lake has shrunk by 90 percent since 1960.
He opined that only that decision can enable the lake play its central role in the stabilisation of the terror-troubled region.
Ganduje, a one-time Executive Secretary of the multinational Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), was delivering his remarks during a session to end the 5th edition of the event.
He expressed the optimism that the lake could continue with such human activities as silting and diversion of its water.
“When I was at the Commission, there were efforts by the commission to recharge the lake from rivers in the Central African Republic and Congo, while they, in turn will be paid with electricity and irrigation farms to be developed by the commission around the recharged lake,” the APC helmsman recalled.
“I don’t know the state of those efforts now, but I think the lake can be recharged from Nigeria’s internal water bodies such as the Gongola, Benue, Kaduna and Hadejia-Jama’are rivers, and water bodies from the Central African Republic and Congo,” Ganduje said.
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