The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) has urged its member nations to begin climate-resilience projects including afforestation and inter-basin water transfer to support the lake’s sustainability.
The Executive Secretary of the LCBC, Amb. Mamman Nuhu made the call on Thursday in Abuja during an Experts’ Meeting held ahead of the 68th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Commission.
Nuhu noted that the lake’s survival was being threatened more severely by climate change with extreme weather events, including severe droughts, unpredictable rainfall, water scarcity, and disastrous floods.
He said that considerable population displacement in the area, including that of farmers, herders, fishers, women, and children, was the result of insecurity, which was fuelled by both pervasive violence and climate change.
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The Executive Secretary said insecurity, fueled by both widespread violence and climate change, had led to widespread displacement of people, farmers, herders, fishermen, women, and children in the region.
He said that as a result, hunger and deprivation had increased, intensifying cycles of poverty and fragility.
Nuhu stressed the need to mobilise resources to help the most vulnerable and underprivileged populations adapt to and cope with upcoming climate-related shocks.
He called on member nations to deepen cooperation and integration to transform the region’s development, saying the complex and transboundary nature of the challenges made regional cooperation indispensable.
Nuhu noted that the planned Inter-Basin Water Transfer from the River Congo will considerably enhance the standard of living for the more than 40 million people who depend on the lake.
Story was adapted from NAN.
