President Muhammadu Buhari has called for global support to develop the resources in the Niger Basin area, home to over 160 million people who depend on the river as a means of sustenance.
He made the call on Thursday in Abuja when he declared open the virtual 12th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA).
President Buhari believes that the Niger River, commonly called Djoliba in Guinea and Mali, offers enormous development opportunities in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, fish farming, hydropower, hydraulics and navigation.
He said, “It is, therefore, necessary to continue to promote its enormous potential for the benefit of our people, and to improve the socio-economic development of the region.
“Of the several decisions taken at the summit, only the decision on funding of the NBA 2016-2024 Operational Plan is yet to be fully implemented.
“It is pertinent to note that there are some ongoing programmes like support to Ground Water Management in Niger Basin (AGES), project II to strengthen NBA and its Member Countries’ technical capacity, and human resources for improving transboundary groundwater resource management in the Niger Basin.”
He further explained that the climate change programme would cover the nine NBA member countries – Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.
President Buhari, who is the outgoing Chair, congratulated President Roch Kaboré of Burkina Faso on his appointment as the new Chairman of the Summit, adding that the Institution had ‘‘the utmost confidence’’ in Kabore’s ability to steer the affairs of the Niger Basin Authority.
‘‘Let me, on behalf of all Heads of State and Government of NBA, wish His Excellency President of the Republic of Burkina Faso, a very successful tenure,’’ he said.
President Buhari also commended technical and financial partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Global Environment Fund (GEF), and German Financial Cooperation (KFW), for identifying with the vision and projects of the authority.