By Abubakar Muhammad (9NEWS NIGERIA, NORTHEAST)
All roads are leading to Borno State capital, Maiduguri for the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, a forum that would bring together regional leaders, national and international development partners to discuss relevant issues associated with the all important Lake Chad region.
Although the venue of the forum is slated for Maiduguri, this edition is hosted by Yobe State government, led by its governor, Mai Mala Buni.
Organized by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), in collaboration with Africa Union Commission (AUC), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the main conference will begin on Wednesday January 29 to 31, at Muhammad Indimi Conference Center, University of Maiduguri.
Muhammad Indimi Conference Center, University of Maiduguri
However, there are other preconference programs scheduled between Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Some of these programs includes Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Forum, Governors Offices Meeting and Regional Meeting of Traditional Leaders among others.
Also, the preconference programs will feature discussions on: Enhancing Partnership, Leveraging Data and Promoting Durable Solutions Through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus in Cameroon on Monday at the Indimi Conference Center.
Organized by National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children Education, a panel discussion on: Addressing Almajiri Challenges as Panacea to Peace and Stability in the Lake Chad Basin Region, would also be featured on Tuesday.
Another panel discussion scheduled for Tuesday will be about: Promoting an Age and Gender Inclusive Environment in the Management of Conflict and Prevention of Violent Extremism: Youth Perspectives, organized by Plan International.
Similarly, Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), will organize a discussion on Regional Approaches to Dealing with Armed Groups in the Sahel, on Tuesday at the center, while there would be an on-air dialogue session on Radio Ndaraso International, Maiduguri, about Practice, Problems and Prospects of the Lake Chad region.
The radio station will also host a live discussion, same day on: Floods in the Lake Chad Basin: Climate Change or Poor Planning?
On the main conference, the organizers will busy themselves as they host two Nigerian state governors, of Borno and Adamawa, and another regional governor of Diffa, Niger Republic.
Another two governors from Cameroon and two more, of Lac and Hadjer-Lamis Provinces, Chad Republic, will participate in the program.
These leaders will engage in series of discussions on regional cooperation, stabilization, peacebuilding and sustainable development.
With the theme: Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-Border Cooperation, Security and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community, key areas of discussions would be on insecurity, cross border trade and how to harness the abundant human and natural resources of the Lake Chad Basin.
The region was once, one of the richest and most stable area in Africa, with enormous riches in agriculture, fisheries and other natural resources, until it was disrupted and thrown into chaos by the Boko-Haram terrorists crisis, which broke out in 2009 and continued to date.
Further complicated by other factors like extreme poverty, underdevelopment and climate change, the region is characterized by massive internal and cross-border displacement, destruction of lives and property, human rights abuses, disruption of public services and limiting capacities of government institutions.
Available reports has suggested at the end of 2024, there were an estimated six million refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the four countries around the basin.
On that data, Nigeria has the Lion’s share of 74%, while Cameroon has 13%, Niger Republic 9%, and Chad with 5%.
With Boko-Haram terrorists activities reduced to minimum in recent years through military actions of Multinational Joint Task Force, (MNJTF) by the associated countries, the region now enjoys relative peace and is heading towards developmental strides.
Before this period, there has been several strategic initiatives for recovery and development of terrorists affected areas in the basin.
Some of these strategies were launched in 2018 and endorsed by regional and international bodies like African Union.
Leading to this edition, the Lake Chad governors are tasked with cementing the previous ideas, consolidating and enhancing them towards securing, restoring and stabilizing the region.
With about 500 participants, other development partners from various bodies, sectors and levels, are expected to contribute to the discussions.
About Lake Chad Basin
The Chad Basin is the largest endorheic basin in Africa, centered approximately on Lake Chad.
It has no outlet to the sea and contains large areas of semi-arid desert and savanna.
The drainage basin is approximately coterminous with the sedimentary basin of the same name, but extends further to the northeast and east.
The basin spans four modern nations, including most of Chad and a large part of Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.
A combination of dams, increased irrigation, climate change, and reduced rainfall are causing water shortages, leading to the continuous shrinking of Lake Chad.
Lake Chad Basin map by Wikipedia
Tasked with managing the basin and it’s resources, LCBC was established in 1964 by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
About 20% of the basin, lying in these countries, is termed the Conventional Basin.
The commission manages use of water and other natural resources in this area.
Although the lake fluctuates considerably in size from one year to another, the general trend has been for water levels to decrease.
Howeve, there has been a proposal to supply water from the Congo Basin via a canal 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) long, but major political, technical, and economic challenges would have to be overcome to make this practical.
