LCBC Member States demand resources for Five – Year Investment Plan implementation.

ABUJA (Water Resources Ministry Report) –

Member – States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) as well as the representatives of international communities, who participated at the just concluded round table conference convened to raise funds to save the drying Lake Chad Basin have resolved that both human and financial resources are required to overcome the obstacles facing the development of the basin.

According to the communique issued at the end of the conference recently in Bologna, Italy, the participants expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the ecosystem at the Lake Chad Basin which has caused the narrowing of the area and loss of livelihoods for more than thirty million people.  The lives of the people of the area, it indicated are based on agriculture, livestock and fishing. Adding, deterioration in the ecosystem has aggravated the conditions of poverty, instability and insecurity prevailing in the area.

The communique further revealed that the conference accepted the support, political and financial commitment expressed by the international communities on the occasion; noting that about twenty international communities attended the conference, comprising –  the  African Development Bank (AFDB), World Bank (WB), World Metrological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) among others.

“The participants agreed to continue the advocacy for mobilization of resources to widely implement the Five-Year 2013-2017 Investment Plan which includes: Development of Socioeconomic Infrastructure; Conservation of Ecosystem, Restoration and Protection of Natural Resources;  Capacity and the Involvement of Stakeholders in Integrated Water Resources Management;  Implementation of the Integrated Management of the Basin, Sustainable Use of Water Resources and Restoration of the Environment,” it stated.

The conference also decided on establishing an international committee to offer support to the actions of the Lake Chad Basin, in order to consolidate on the political, technical and financial support from international communities as well as follow-up the implementation activities and other measures for the socioeconomic development of member-states. The LCBC Secretariat, it said was urged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders towards ensuring successful implementation of the Five-Year Investment Plan, in order to boost economic growth in the region.

As part of the follow up action for the successful implementation, the conference agreed to harmonize intervention projects by donors, especially those who have pledged indirect support. It also directed the LCBC to reach out to the European Union, China and other donor partners that have shown interest and concern earlier but could not show up in Bologna, Italy. Adding, the LCBC should introduce an annual reporting mechanism as a follow up to the successes of the implementation of the plan.  The Member – States of the LCBC comprise: Nigeria, Niger, Central Africa Republic (C.A.R), Cameroon, Chad and Libya.