Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, today chaired his first meeting with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) at its headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad.

The meeting marks a significant step in strengthening regional cooperation among Lake Chad Basin states towards achieving peace, security, and sustainable development.

Buni’s Inaugural Address: Moving from Declarations to Delivery

Expressing the importance of the meeting, Governor Buni said:

“Today’s inaugural engagement between the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum and the Lake Chad Basin Commission is very special to me, being the first since my emergence as Chairman. It places a greater responsibility on me to reinforce our collective resolve for peace, stabilization, and prosperity in our region.”

Buni noted that the 5th Forum Meeting in Maiduguri had laid the foundation for regional collaboration built on security, humanitarian response, sustainable development, and climate resilience.

Among the major resolutions of the Forum were:
✅ Enhancing the operational capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)
✅ Deepening cross-border infrastructure development
✅ Mobilizing finance through the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund and the Nexus Funding Facility
✅ Supporting community-based reintegration and reconciliation
✅ Tackling emerging threats such as youth radicalization, illicit arms trade, and ecological degradation

Commitment to Climate Resilience and Economic Recovery

Buni also highlighted transformative projects such as the:

• Support Project for the Restoration of Ecological and Economic Functions of the Lake Chad Basin

• Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience

• Early Warning System Initiative

These projects, anchored by the LCBC, aim to promote climate resilience, environmental restoration, and sustainable livelihoods in the region.

“At this critical juncture, we must intensify our regional diplomacy and advocacy,” the Governor emphasized.

Commendation for Federal Government Support

Governor Buni commended the Nigerian Federal Government for supporting the goals of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, disclosing that:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recently approved the reconstruction of key roads within the corridors, including the Dikwa–Ngala and Bama–Banki roads under the Dangote Tax Credit Scheme.”

He also stressed the importance of expanding reintegration programmes, advocating for donor support to stabilization programmes, particularly in Niger Republic.

Call for Agricultural Development and Food Security

With the rainy season approaching, Buni called for collaborative efforts to empower farmers with agricultural inputs, saying:

“We should explore every opportunity to improve agricultural production among member states to fast-track economic growth and ensure food sufficiency and security.”

LCBC, Regional Leaders Pledge Support

Earlier, Governor of N’Djamena, Amina Kodjiana, and the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Amb. Nuhu Mamman, commended Governor Buni for his commitment to actualizing the Commission’s goals.

They pledged their full support for his tenure as Chairman, assuring that the member states would work together to promote regional strategy, stabilization, and security.