UNDP, Borno govt establish Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Borno State government have established the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.

The UNDP communication analyst, Eno Jonathan announced this yesterday at a joint news conference in Maiduguri.

She said the forum was established to promote dialogue and conflict prevention for sustainable development and
Peace in the area.

The member countries of the forum, which has 11 state and provincial governors, comprise Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

Jonathan stressed that the forum would promote continuous dialogue, and information sharing to strengthen coordination on cross border initiatives in the basin.

She said: “The first International Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum will create an enabling environment for state authorities at the sub-national level, and across common borderlands.

She added that about 150 participants, including resident ambassador, international development and donor partners are expected at its first meeting next week.

Others are traditional leaders and a number of civil society groups and Non-Government organisations (NGOs).

The Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima, Tukur Mshelia, said the forum would showcase government’s efforts in rebuilding the state after the damage by Boko Haram insurgents.

“It is an avenue to create more international awareness and get the desired commitment to save Lake Chad, which has lost 90 per cent of its water body,” he said.