Buhari Canvasses Global Support for Niger Basin Development

By Deji Elumoye

President Muhammadu Buhari has canvassed for global support to develop resources in the Niger Basin area, which is home to over 160 million people who depend on the River as a means of sustenance.

Speaking yesterday while declaring open the 12th virtual Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), Buhari said the Niger River commonly called Djoliba in Guinea and Mali, offers enormous development opportunities in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, hydro-power, hydraulics and navigation.

He emphasised the need to continue to promote its enormous potential for the benefit of the people and the improvement of the socio-economic development of the region.

The President thanked the NBA’s Technical and Financial Partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the German Financial Cooperation (KFW), for identifying with the vision and projects of the authority.

Buhari also urged them to continue to support efforts geared towards developing the Niger Basin in the fight against pollution and the degradation of ecosystems in order to manage its resources in a sustainable and equitable manner.

Buhari, who is the outgoing Chairman of the NBA Leaders’ Summit, also used the occasion to give account of his five-year stewardship, piloting the affairs of the institution.

He said: ‘‘ Your excellencies, it has been a privilege to lead this Summit of Heads of State and Government for the past five years, since you all unanimously endorsed me as the Chairman at the 11th Summit held in Cotonou, Benin Republic on January 8, 2016 to lead our common institution.

‘‘Of the several decisions taken at the Summit, only the decision on funding of the NBA 2016-2024 Operational Plan is yet to be fully implemented.

‘‘It is pertinent to note that there are some on-going programmes like: support to Ground Water Management in Niger Basin (AGES), project II to strengthen NBA and its member countries’ technical capacity and human resources for improving trans-boundary groundwater resource management in the Niger Basin.”

He listed other on-going programmes to include the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in Niger Basin financed by the AfDB, GEF, KFW and NBA member countries to improve the resilience of the Niger River ecosystems and populations through a sustainable management of natural resources.

Buhari explained that the climate change programme would cover the nine NBA member-countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.