Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has called on Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum to as a matter of urgency proffer ladting solution on the crisis confronting the basin.
Governor Fintiri stated this while addressing the 5th edition of the Lake Chard Basin Governors’ Forum meeting holding in Maiduguri, Borno state on Wednesday.
He said it is his honest believe that the meeting both plenary and technical session will not only show the way out of the Lake Chad Basin crises but give more hope to the world that every player that has a conscience to search and duty to perform, saying "The world is waiting. Africa is anxious. The Basin is still bleeding. Our people are hopeful".
He noted that the meeting shows their collective recognition that they have a problem at hand and they are collective in the resolve to tackle it.
He said it is no longer news that the Basin has been passing through its worst environmental turmoil evidenced by shrinking water resources, loss of biodiversity and threat to wildlife migration.
"The United Nations Environment Programme’s finding recently revealed that the Lake Chad has shrunk 90 per cent in 60 years, and blamed the situation on climate change, irrigation, construction of dams and population increase. The shrinking of Lake Chad has led to a decline in fish stocks, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased competition for scarce water resources.
"It is equally stale to mention that this environmental degradation is responsible for climate change which is an aggravating factor for conflict and terrorism as it creates conditions of poverty, desperation and resentment that make people more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. Informed studies have disclosed that there is indeed, a positive correlation between the changing physical environment of Lake Chad and the intensity of violent extremist activities in the surrounding area over the years.
"The realities we have had to contend with are the severe and multifaceted impact, this conflict has imposed on the Chad Basin. The insurgent group has caused massive displacement of people, with millions internally displaced people and refugees in the region. It has also undermined human security and worsened existing vulnerabilities, including poverty, food insecurity, malnutrition, environmental degradation, and gender-based violence. The conflict has equally destabilised state institutions, eroded social cohesion and trust among communities and authorities, and disrupted economic activities such as trade, agriculture, fishing, and cross-border commerce. Fintiri said
According to him, the cheering news is that the world recognises this gloomy characterization and do understand that there would not be a global peace without the right answers to the question of the Lake Chard Basin.
He commended state and non-state actors who played a role in placing this burning issue on the global agenda, saying the Lake Chad crisis is indeed of global concern, and neither its causes nor its effects respect national borders.
He further stated that when they committed to the Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (RSS) for the region, they did so, believing that it will provide them with instruments and resources to go beyond borders and military operations and promote cross-border cooperation on security and stabilization, early recovery, and development for the Basin.
"Your Excellencies, distinguished participants, as we set out to start this meeting, I want us to interrogate the extent to which our Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (RSSRR) has performed.
"I want us to take a critical look at our individual and collective roles as national and subnational governments, global and regional organizations, international, national and local NGOs, and even our development funding agencies and the banks.
"Can we actually say that 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 the international and local partners with the level of progress made in responding to the crisis in the Basin?" Asked Fintiri
Fintiri pointed out that the extent of affirmative answers provided to these questions are the determinants of what brings us close to the theme of today’s meeting which is: “Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-border Cooperation, Security, and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community”.
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