FG To Address Transboundary Water Resource Mgt Challenges

The Federal Government is to
inaugurate the Parliamentary Council for the Lake Chad Basin Commission to address transboundary water resource management challenges.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made this known when he hosted the Chairman and members of the House Committee on the Lake Chad Basin in Abuja.

A statement signed by the Director Information and Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan emphasizes the strategic importance of the Parliamentary Council in tackling shared water resource challenges among member countries.

“The Lake Chad Basin Commission is vital to the stability and development of the West African subregion,” the Minister stated. Its functions transcend water management to include fostering regional cooperation, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, and mitigating the impacts of climate change in member states”.

“Strengthening the Commission’s governance framework through effective legislation, as mandated by the Parliamentary Council, is key to achieving these goals” Professor Utsev states.

According to the statement, Prof. Utsev calls for sustained collaboration with members of the House of Representatives, stressing the need for a unified approach to addressing the challenges confronting the Lake Chad Basin and ensuring sustainable development in the region.

According to the statement, in his response, the Chairman of the House Committee on the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Anayo Onwuegbu, reiterates the critical role of the Committee in shaping policies to support the Commission.

He commends Nigeria’s leadership in combating desertification and addressing other ecological challenges affecting the Lake Chad region.

According to the statement, Onwuegbu expresses concern over delays in inaugurating the Parliamentary Council, emphasizing its necessity in enhancing Nigeria’s performance and fulfilling its commitments to the Commission.

“The inauguration of the Council is essential for bolstering institutional frameworks and driving collective efforts to revitalize the Lake Chad Basin,” he states.

“Both leaders underscored the urgency of addressing environmental and developmental challenges in the region, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to its leadership role in the Lake Chad Basin Commission”.

PR/Georgina Humphrey