By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has called for stronger regional cooperation, hydrodiplomacy and strategic investment to address water, climate, environmental and development challenges in the Niger and Lake Chad Basins.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the Regional Conference on Hydrodiplomacy, Gender and Strategic Investments for Peace, Stability and Shared Prosperity in Transboundary Basins.
Utsev said stronger partnerships among basin countries and regional institutions were essential to improving water resources management, building climate resilience and promoting peace and sustainable development.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), ECOWAS, development partners, financial institutions, civil society organisations and local communities on water supply and sanitation, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation.
The minister also urged the NBA and LCBC to strengthen their collaboration and ensure that the outcomes of the conference are translated into practical actions that would improve stability, resilience and shared prosperity across the region.
Executive Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Kocou Houanye, said the conference would help deepen regional cooperation in tackling climate change, insecurity and conflicts over natural resources.
He disclosed that the physical implementation of the Integrated Development and Climate Change Adaptation Programme in the Niger Basin (PIDACC) had reached 48.3 per cent, while financial implementation stood at 57 per cent.
The Executive Secretary of the LCBC, Amb. Ibrahim Babani, highlighted the importance of evidence-based water management and called for greater participation by women and young people in water diplomacy, peacebuilding and innovation.
Similarly, the German development agency GIZ expressed its readiness to support the basin organisations and member states through technical expertise, institutional cooperation and community participation.
A representative of Germany and the European Union, Dr. Karin Jansen, also reaffirmed support for the NBA and LCBC, stressing the need for strong institutions, reliable information, community participation and ownership by member states to advance transboundary cooperation and sustainable development.
The conference has brought together government officials, basin organisations, development partners, financial institutions, civil society groups, private-sector representatives and community stakeholders to discuss practical measures for strengthening regional cooperation and mobilising investment across the two basins.
The conference, which began on Monday, is expected to end on Wednesday, with participants expected to adopt actionable measures to strengthen cooperation, peace, resilience and sustainable development in the Niger and Lake Chad Basins.
