Yobe to host 5th edition of Lake Chad Governors’ Forum

The Yobe government on Thursday said it has concluded arrangements for hosting the 5th edition of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum (LCBGF) from Jan. 29 to 31.

Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, made this known in Damaturu.

Bago said the forum, organized by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), would hold at Indimi International Conference Centre, Maiduguri.

He said the forum, with the theme: “Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-Border Cooperation, Security and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community,” would provide a platform for dialogue and coordination among the eight territories of the Lake Chad Basin affected by the Boko Haram crisis.

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According to the commissioner, no fewer than 500 participants, including representatives from national and local governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, were expected to attend.

Others were representatives from Regional Economic Communities (RECs), national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), traditional leaders, United Nations agencies, donors, research and educational institutions, and other key technical partners.

Bego quoted Amb. Mamman Nuhu, the Executive Secretary of the LCBC and Head of Mission of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), as saying the forum provides a critical space for humanitarian, development and peace actors to come together.

He also quoted Amb. Adeoye Bankole,
the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, African Union Commission, as saying the forum remains an essential platform for promoting sustainable development, peace and security in the region.

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The commissioner said the forum would commence with a Pre-Forum from Jan. 27 to Jan. 28 to enhance inclusivity through discussions with local and national actors, CSOs and traditional leaders on key topics such as social cohesion, peaceful existence and the prevention of violent extremism.

He also quoted Mr. Njoya Tikum, the Director, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa, as saying the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) has been instrumental in implementing the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (RS-SRR) of the Boko Haram affected areas of the region.

The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) was established on 22 May 1964 by the four countries bordering Lake Chad: Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.

The Central African Republic joined the organization in 1996 and Libya was admitted in 2008.