President
Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja reiterated the need for sustained
financial, technical and capacity building support from the international
community to
mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in the country.
Receiving a
letter of credence from Mr. Robert Jan Petri, the Ambassador of Netherlands to
Nigeria, President Buhari said Nigeria would continue to vigorously pursue the
replenishment of the Lake Chad Basin, which has dried up to 10 per cent of its
original size.
‘’With the
population growth in Nigeria and the drying up of the Lake Chad, we have to
move faster and adapt to the impacts of climate change through technological
solutions, ‘’ the president said.
The
president told the Dutch Ambassador that following Nigeria’s active
participation in UN-organized Climate Change conferences in 2015, 2016 and
2017, the Nigerian government successfully hosted a high-level international
conference on Lake Chad in February 2018.
Buhari in a
statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,
yesterday noted that the high-level conference provided an opportunity to push
further options to restore the Lake Chad, including the inter-basin water
transfer project from Ubangi River in Central Africa to the lake.
On
agriculture, the president welcomed the interest by some Nigerian doctoral
students in the Netherlands on developing the sector through research and
innovation, particularly the livestock sector.
In separate
remarks, while receiving the letter of credence from the High Commissioner of
the Republic of Botswana, Mr. Pule Mphothwe, President Buhari commended the
Southern African country for its consistent support to Nigeria in the
international fora.
The
President who also received letter of credence from Mr. Houssam Diab,
Ambassador of Lebanon to Nigeria, commended Lebanon for its successful
parliamentary elections, commitment to stability and security in the Middle
East, as well as assistance to Syrian refugees.
In their
separate remarks, the Ambassadors while highlighting the existing and cordial
relations between Nigeria and their countries, called for increased trade and
economic cooperation.
Meanwhile,
the Federal Government yesterday said it has initiated measures to cushion the
negative effects of the shrinkage of Lake Chad.
President
Buhari who disclosed this yesterday in Maiduguri while declaring open the First
Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum, assured Nigeria is working assiduously to
address the plight of the people living on the Nigerian side of the lake.
The
president who was represented by the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima,
said there was a need to find workable solutions in resuscitating the Lake Chad
to the benefit of all member countries in the region.
He added
that the people living in the Basin depend on the Lake Chad for agriculture,
fisheries and livestock for their economic wellbeing.
“The Lake
Chad is very dear to our heart as it is a source of livelihood to over 45
million people living in the Basin. This lake, which is one of the oldest lakes
in Africa, is shared by Cameroun, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and
Nigeria.
He noted
that the Lake Chad region was formerly an “oasis in the desert”, a hub of
economic activities and food security, providing a source of happiness and
contentment that contributed to the stability of the sub-region.
President
Buhari, who noted that the Lake Chad issues must be treated with the required
urgency, called on all stakeholders to share the mission of rescuing the Lake
Chad Basin.
In his
remarks, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident
Representative in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said despite the progress made on the
security and humanitarian front in recent years, more needs to be done to
assure the people of the Lake Chad Basin of their safety.
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