The Nigerian minister of water resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, who is also the chairman, council of ministers of Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has told member countries to protect their populations from the impact of covid-19 through ingenious approches.
Eng. Adamu gave the charge on Thursday, April 15 in Abuja during the 66th session of the council of ministers conference, which was held virtually.
In his opening remarks, the minister stated that since their last meeting in December 2019 in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital, the world was seized by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, from which the sub-region was not spared.
“This global phenomenon, with its attendant economic, social, and humanitarian consequences, has exacerbated the complex socio-economic and security challenges we are confronted with in the Lake Chad Region, and has significantly reduced the capacity of member states to fight against poverty and insecurity,” he said.
He also recognized that there is need for firm and decisive policies and actions to address the insecurity, health, economic, environmental, and social challenges in the region, given the new addition to the complexity of the emerging challenges of occasioned by the pandemic.
Adamu drew attention of the meeting to four key priority areas that he believes, if properly addressed, would provide the people of the region with immediate and appreciable results.
The priority areas are insecurity in the region due to the unpredictable activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups that continue to operate within isolated communities of the region; climate change and its attendant challenges, such as reduced access to natural resources, including water and arable land, az well as poverty and reduced means of livelihoods. Others include youth unemployment and low levels of inclusive growth.
However, the minister expressed his optimism that if the Lake Chad region must overcome its current insecurity challenges, member countries through the LCBC must continue to sustain and enhance efforts at addressing the aforementioned issues.
Engr. Adamu thanked His Excellency Idriss Deby, president of the Republic of Chad, and the government and people of Chad for accepting to host the 66th session of the council of ministers meeting, despite the current difficulties posed by the pandemic.
He congratulated the executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, and his team for their efforts in organizing the meeting, which is was held for the first time through video conferencing.
