Gov. Buni Chairs Lake Chad Basin Commission Meeting in Ndjamena, Chad

From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who currently chairs the Lake Chad Governor’s Forum, presided over a meeting with the Lake Chad Basin Commission at its headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad.

According to a statement by Mamman Mohammad, Director General of Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, the meeting marked Buni’s first engagement with the Commission since assuming the role of chairman of the forum.

He noted that discussions built on outcomes of the Forum’s fifth meeting in Maiduguri, focusing on security, cross-border cooperation, humanitarian response, sustainable development, and climate resilience.

Key resolutions included the enhancement of the operational capacity of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, the development of cross-border infrastructure, and the mobilization of funding through existing regional mechanisms.

Emphasis was also placed on community-based reintegration efforts and responses to emerging threats such as youth radicalization, illicit arms trade, and environmental degradation.

Participants discussed the validation of the Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience, alongside ongoing initiatives such as the ecological restoration project and the Early Warning System, both led by the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

The meeting also highlighted the need for continued regional diplomacy and coordination. Buni noted recent federal approvals for road reconstruction in strategic border areas, including Dikwa–Ngala and Bama–Banki, as part of infrastructure development efforts.

The forum reiterated its focus on reintegration programmes and called for renewed donor support, particularly in the Niger Republic.

Participants underscored the role of the Commission in harmonizing regional investment efforts and ensuring accountability.

With the onset of the rainy season, the meeting emphasized coordinated efforts to strengthen regional food security through agricultural inputs and support for farmers across member states.

Earlier, Governor of Ndjamena Amina Kodjiana and the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Amb. Nuhu Mamman, acknowledged the significance of the meeting and pledged support for the ongoing work of the forum.