Governors’ Forum Commits to Boosting MNJTF and Securing Lake Chad
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum, has reaffirmed its commitment to the stabilization, recovery, and resilience of residents in the region.
According to the Forum, the six-member states and provinces, will strengthen strategic support, and the operational capacity of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), by investing in transborder security.
The region’s stabilization strategies, were contained in a 13-point communique released on over weekend at the closing ceremony of forum’s meeting held at Indimi International Conference Centre, Maiduguri.
“Member states and provinces of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria are to effectively occupy the Lake Chad Islands,” it declared.
Stating that: “This is a means to strengthen trans-boundary security, with a focus on securing and controlling the strategic waterways of the Lake Chad.
The forum also underscored the critical need for the rehabilitation and reintegration of former associates of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who have left the terror group.
The forum also called on the Lake Chad Basin states and provinces, institutions and partners to provide human and material resources to effectively address the insecurity problems in the region.
Member countries noted the effects of climate change, illiteracy, youth unemployment, economic hardships, and the frequent natural disasters, however, still persist in the region.
“There is the disproportionate impact of the security crisis on vulnerable populations, particularly women, children,” said the communique, as well as, the need to protect and assist all affected civilians that aligns with humanitarian principles and international law.
The forum also lamented the suspension of donor support for Niger’s National Window of the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF), warning that; withdrawal of facility could negatively impact progress across the region.
The member states, therefore, called for a concerted effort to urgently address this challenge.
Besides stabilizing the region with resilience, the forum stated, “We’re to ensure that remnants of all non-state armed groups are completely neutralized in all the states and provinces of affected countries.
It added that they should intensify efforts to combat illicit trade of arms and drug trafficking and abuse, particularly and the youths.
The forum continued: “We’re to scale up the climate resilient initiatives and environmental protection efforts to support the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad Basin ecosystems and biodiversity.”
While the traditional rulers, will
strengthen collaboration to facilitate reconciliation and reintegration process.
According to the forum, women and youths are to be engaged in the stabilization, recovery, and resilience initiatives that could effectively address their problems.
Other resolutions adopted by the forum, included enhancing the roles of civil society and traditional authorities, working with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) on advocacy, establishment of Free Trade Zone (FTZ), resource mobilization efforts, and the construction and rehabilitation of cross-border roads that could promote border trade and strengthening of security in the region.
The forum appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the host governor, Mai Mala Buni and Nigeria for their hospitality during the three-day meeting.
The governors’ forum agrees to hold the next meeting in 2026 in Niger Republic.
