Buhari seeks more global commitment on Lake Chad

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja called for more commitment from the international community on redirecting water to the shrinking Lake Chad.

He warned that about 40 million population in the region would pose adverse migration and security challenges to the world.

Speaking while receiving Letters of Credence from the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Philip Baker, at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said the tragedy of the shrinking Lake Chad would keep fuelling more illegal migrations, banditry and provide willing hands for terrorism since majority of the people have lost their means of livelihood.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said: “In 1920’s, an academic rightly predicted that except there’s a redirection of water to Lake Chad, it will dry up.

“Now, whenever I go for any global meeting or visit a country, I will always draw the world’s attention to the adverse effect of climate change on the lake, and the resulting negative effects,” he said.

Buhari urged the Canadian government to support the on-going efforts to divert water from the Congo River to the lake.

“Canada has the capacity to help us. The lake is now less than 10 per cent of its normal size. A redirection will help our people from getting into the Mediterranean Sea,” he added.

The President said Nigeria and Canada have good relations dating back to the early 60’s when Nigeria gained independence, hailing the country for “its vast resource utilisation and solid political background.”

The Canadian High Commissioner lauded the President for providing leadership in the country, and championing the cause for the replenishing of the Lake Chad Basin.

He noted that the Canadian Governor General, Julie Payette, had presented a picture taken from space of the vanishing lake to the President when she visited recently.

Baker said more than 11, 000 Nigerians were studying in Canada, with many residing in the country, assuring the President that majority of the students return to build and invest their knowledge in Nigeria’s growth.

The Canadian High Commissioner said he would work towards improving relations between both countries on migration, education, entrepreneurship training, mining, renewable energy and Information Technology.

Also receiving Letters of Credence from the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Wendy Campbell Laing, Buhari said Nigeria remains grateful for the training support for the military in the Northeast  since it started fighting Boko Haram.