FG seeks $50 billion for recharging of shrinking Lake Chad

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigerian government has called for raising of over $50 billion required to actualize the recharging of Lake Chad as a strategic important regional project that was critical to the security, environment and livelihoods of the people as recently underscored by the 5th Lake Chad Governors’ Forum.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye who made this known Saturday at the Two-Day High-level Retreat of Nigerian Ambassadors and Sahel/Lake Chad Diplomatic Representatives in Maiduguri stressed the need to move beyond debate and focus on feasibility environment impact assessment exercise to take concrete steps of raising over $50 billion required to actualize the strategically important regional project.

The retreat themed, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Engagement with the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin Countries: Towards Peace, Security and Sustainable Regional Development” focused on proposal for the development of a Sahel Development Compact — a practical framework that shifts the narrative from crisis management to sustainable development which envisions deeper cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, trade, transport connectivity, energy, education, climate resilience, water resource management, humanitarian response and human capital development.

Continuing, Enikanolaiye noted Nigeria’s relationship with nations of the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin was unique and enduring founded not merely on diplomatic engagement or geographical proximity, but on centuries of shared history, commerce, culture, religion, language and ending family ties.

He said while international boundaries define sovereignty as independent States, they do not diminish the deep historical, social and cultural bonds that unite the people. Minister Enikanolaiye highlighted that the connections and time-honoured linkages have deepened the continued strong foundation for mutual trust, cooperation and collective commitment to peace, stability and shared prosperity across the region.

He said that developments in Sahel states and Yaoundé have direct implications for Nigeria’s national security, economic wellbeing and regional diplomacy and reason Nigeria has consistently taken the issues of economic cooperation, trade, commerce, peace and stability in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin as indispensable component of its own national interest.

He expressed hope that the promotion of closer commercial ties with industrial value addition, including agriculture and food security will lay a solid base for regional peace, security, stability and development in the Lake Chad Basin countries and the Sahel.

Apart from recharging the waters of Lake Chad, Enikanolaiye said redoubling their commitment to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNTF) was equally important to intensify joint resolve and strategies to address persistent security challenge.