President Bola Tinubu has urged regional leaders and international partners to demonstrate greater commitment to addressing security and socio-economic challenges bedevilling the Lake Chad Basin. He said this at the inauguration of the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum yesterday in Maiduguri.
   
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President stressed the need for sustained cooperation, effective governance, and investment in development to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.
   
Tinubu, who highlighted the progress made through the implementation of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy, Recovery, and Resilience initiatives (RSSRR), however, acknowledged nagging problems of insecurity, climate change, and mass displacement affecting the region. 
   
He said: “The Lake Chad Basin is at a crossroads. The stability of this region is paramount not only to the countries that share borders but to Africa and the world at large.
    
“We must remain vigilant and committed to the task ahead.” Tinubu added that the journey towards lasting peace and prosperity is far from over despite the resilience shown by communities in the face of prolonged violent extremism and other crises.   He underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict to bolster cross-border cooperation between the affected countries.
    
“We cannot afford to be complacent. The security of our region, the welfare of our people, and the health of our environment depend on our collective action,” the President said.Tinubu stressed the need for the implementation of a people-centred approach to stabilise the region and called for greater investment in youth and women.

MEANWHILE, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has raised concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to address the humanitarian and security crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, despite substantial resources allocated to the region.
   
Fintiri asked: “Can we truly say we have done enough to guarantee the RSSRR we all committed to in the region? Can we match the size of the resources placed at the disposal of governments and international and local partners with the level of progress made in responding to the crisis in the Basin?” 
  
Speaking at a high-level meeting on the region’s future, the governor emphasised that the answers to these questions will determine how close stakeholders are to achieving the theme of the gathering: “Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains Committee to Peace, Cross-border Cooperation Security, and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community.”

He called for a more results-driven approach, stressing the need for transparency, accountability, and renewed commitment to ensuring that interventions translate into tangible improvements for the people of the region.