In a milestone engagement for regional peace and cooperation, Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, chaired his first high-level meeting with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) at its headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad.
The meeting marks Governor Buni’s inaugural engagement with the Commission since assuming the leadership of the Governors’ Forum, signaling renewed momentum in multilateral efforts to restore peace, foster sustainable development, and enhance climate resilience across the Lake Chad region.
“Today’s engagement is very special to me,” Governor Buni remarked in his opening address. “It is my first as Chairman of the Forum and comes with the responsibility to strengthen our collective resolve for peace, stabilization, and prosperity in the Lake Chad Basin.”
He reaffirmed that the outcomes of the 5th Lake Chad Governors’ Forum held in Maiduguri provided a strong foundation for action. The Forum, he noted, resolved to prioritize security, humanitarian response, cross-border cooperation, sustainable development, and climate adaptation.
Among key resolutions discussed were: Enhancing the operational capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF); Scaling up cross-border infrastructure development; Mobilizing funding through mechanisms such as the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund and the Nexus Funding Facility; Promoting community-based reintegration and reconciliation strategies; Addressing youth radicalization, the illicit arms trade, and ecological degradation.
Governor Buni also highlighted significant progress under the Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience, and welcomed the initiation of transformational projects like the Support Project for the Restoration of the Ecological and Economic Functions of the Lake Chad Basin. He described these initiatives as pivotal to achieving climate resilience, environmental restoration, and sustainable livelihoods.
“At this critical juncture, we must intensify regional diplomacy and advocacy. It is time to transition from declarations to delivery,” he emphasized.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting key infrastructure interventions, particularly the reconstruction of the Dikwa–Ngala and Bama–Banki roads under the Dangote Tax Credit Scheme. These routes serve as vital arteries for regional commerce and stabilization.
Governor Buni also reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to: Expanding reintegration programs across member states; Advocating for the restoration of donor funding for stabilization efforts in the Republic of Niger; Strengthening collaboration with LCBC on harmonized investments, joint monitoring, and accountability frameworks.
Looking ahead to the planting season, Governor Buni called for a region-wide effort to bolster food security:
“We must equip our people with agricultural inputs and unlock the opportunities for improved production and food sufficiency. Agricultural transformation is not only vital for economic growth but essential for peacebuilding.”
In their remarks, Governor of N’Djamena, Amina Kodjiana, and LCBC Executive Secretary, Amb. Nuhu Mamman, lauded Governor Buni’s proactive leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting his tenure.
“Your vision aligns with the shared aspirations of the Lake Chad peoples. We are fully behind your efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and sustainable peace,” Amb. Mamman affirmed.
The meeting concluded with renewed pledges to accelerate the implementation of regional stabilization strategies and ensure tangible impacts for communities across the Lake Chad Basin, spanning Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
