Financing restoration of Lake Chad Basin

The Lake Chad Basin region has long been grappling with the interconnected challenges of security, peace, and development, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Mamman Nuhu, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, highlighted the pressing need for increased financing to address these issues during a recent interview with CNBC Africa. The formation of the Multinational Joint Task Force has brought a level of stability to the region, but more funding is essential to restore the shrinking Lake Chad. Climate change has taken a severe toll on the Lake Chad Basin, with the lake's surface area diminishing significantly over the years. Nuhu outlined the drastic reduction in the lake's size, from 25,000 square kilometers in the early 1960s to just 1,410 square kilometers following devastating droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. These environmental changes have led to a surge in the region's population, reaching 45 million by 2015, straining already scarce resources and sparking tensions and insecurity. The influx of migrants seeking sustenance from the dwindling resources around Lake Chad further escalated the challenges faced by the region. The rise of the Boko Haram insurgency added another layer of complexity, prompting the establishment of the multinational joint task force to combat the threats posed by the extremist group. While progress has been made in degrading Boko Haram's capabilities, the region continues to grapple with the lingering effects of insecurity. To address the multifaceted challenges in the Lake Chad Basin, concerted efforts and partnerships are crucial. The formation of the multinational joint task force and the development of a regional stabilisation strategy underscore the importance of collaborative approaches in tackling issues of security, peace, and development. The regional stabilisation strategy, with its nine pillars and 40 strategic objectives, provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the humanitarian and security concerns in the affected areas. The recent forum on financing security, peace, and development in Africa has shed light on the critical need to reorient international interventions towards effectively addressing the challenges in regions like the Lake Chad Basin. Nuhu emphasized the necessity for a renewed focus on investing in security, peace, and development to adequately respond to the pressing issues faced by communities in the third world. The forum's discussions have underscored the urgency of redirecting resources and attention towards regions that have long been overlooked. As the Lake Chad Basin grapples with the complex interplay of climate change, insecurity, and development challenges, stakeholders must continue to prioritize sustainable solutions and collaborative efforts. By mobilizing adequate financing and fostering partnerships, the region can work towards restoring stability and resilience in the face of ongoing crises.