PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON LAKE CHAD BASIN – CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACTION PLAN (LCB-CRAP)
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng and the Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar on Tuesday 4th August 7, 2020 in Abuja received the Report of the Inter- Ministerial Technical Committee on Lake Chad Basin-Climate Resilience Action Plan popularly known as LCB CRAP presented by the Director Water Resources Planning & Technical Support Services Mrs. Alice Ojowu, FNMGS.
The programme has 5 components namely:
- Environmental Awareness Campaign
- Integrated Climate Smart Agricultural Services
- Integrated Land Degradation Management in the Lake Chad Basin
- Integrated Water Supply to Rural Communities/Harvesting
- Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Lake Chad Basin Wetlands
The Director who gave background information on the Lake Chad informed that the Lake Chad Basin shared by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Libya has receded over the last four decades from 25,000 sq km in 1963 to about 2.5 sq km in 2007 due to climate change. This has resulted in food insecurity, migration, terrorism and decline of socio-economic activities.
To address these challenges, during a Special Side Event on Lake Chad at the COP21 Meeting in Paris, France in December 2015, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR on his continued advocacy to alleviate the suffering of the population in the Basin requested for international support towards the rehabilitation of the Lake with a view to restoring livelihoods in the basin.
Consequently, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment set up the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for the Lake Chad Basin – Climate Resilience Action Plan (LCB – CRAP) inaugurated on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017 by the Hon. Minister of Water Resources to;
- Develop an integrated work plan with initiatives towards ensuring bringing livelihood to the people of the Lake Chad basin catchment.
- Carry out Environmental Impact Assessment of the drying lake and water demand and water use strategy for the basin.
- Establish policies, regulations and strategies to ensure compliance with water use quota, as defined in the agreement of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Thanking the Honourable Ministers for the confidence reposed in the committee to do the job, Mrs. Ojowu said the committee was confident that the two Ministries (Water Resources and Environment) who are spearheading the initiative to give a coordinated approach to Mr President’s directive will make a joint presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for Mr President’s consideration and approval so as to alleviate the suffering of the teaming population in the Lake Chad Basin
