Restoration Of Lake Chad Will Help Curb Illegal Migration — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said the recharging of
Lake Chad will help to reduce the irregular migration of youths
striving to get into Europe through the Sahara Desert.

He made the remark while hosting the President of Chad, Marshal
Idris Deby Itno, at the State House in Abuja.

According to the President, about 30 million people are
adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad, which is now just about
ten percent of its original size, a statement signed by spokesman
Femi Adesina said.

“It is imperative that there be water transfer to the Lake Chad
from the Congo Basin, so that the people can resume their normal
lives,” President Buhari said, as quoted in Adesina’s
statement.

He added that with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing,
animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of
youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea,
to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures, the statement
noted.

“I’ve been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and
beyond, on why we need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit
more, but it is also advantageous to everyone,’’ President Buhari
added.

On the recharge of Lake Chad, Chadian President Itno counseled
Buhari to consider convening an international summit to move the
idea forward.

Meanwhile, Buhari appreciated Chad for its role in curbing
insurgency in the region, particularly the Boko Haram
challenge.

“We appreciate what you are doing on security,” the President
said. “When I first came to office in 2015, I came to see you, as
well as leaders of other neighbouring countries, because it makes
sense to be in the good books of our neighbours.”

President Buhari wished Marshal Itno well in the general
elections coming up in his country in April.

The Chadian leader thanked President Buhari for receiving him,
saying, “We are neighbours facing similar challenges.”

He added that he was also around to explore other bilateral
issues, in addition to security.

Fielding questions from state house correspondents on the
position of Chad in advancing the functionality of the
multinational joint task force formed to fight the insurgency in
the Lake Chad region, President Itno said that the Boko Haram
crisis will be definitively tackled, given new strategies that
would be employed.

He further noted that tackling the insurgent group has been made
difficult with operations carried out just once a year, but he is
confident that with the change of security operatives both within
Nigeria and the multinational joint task force, there is more hope
for an end to the crisis.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said the recharging of
Lake Chad will help to reduce the irregular migration of youths
striving to get into Europe through the Sahara Desert.

He made the remark while hosting the President of Chad, Marshal
Idris Deby Itno, at the State House in Abuja.

According to the President, about 30 million people are
adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad, which is now just about
ten percent of its original size, a statement signed by spokesman
Femi Adesina said.

“It is imperative that there be water transfer to the Lake Chad
from the Congo Basin, so that the people can resume their normal
lives,” President Buhari said, as quoted in Adesina’s
statement.

He added that with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing,
animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of
youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea,
to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures, the statement
noted.

“I’ve been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and
beyond, on why we need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit
more, but it is also advantageous to everyone,’’ President Buhari
added.

On the recharge of Lake Chad, Chadian President Itno counseled
Buhari to consider convening an international summit to move the
idea forward.

Meanwhile, Buhari appreciated Chad for its role in curbing
insurgency in the region, particularly the Boko Haram
challenge.

“We appreciate what you are doing on security,” the President
said. “When I first came to office in 2015, I came to see you, as
well as leaders of other neighbouring countries, because it makes
sense to be in the good books of our neighbours.”

President Buhari wished Marshal Itno well in the general
elections coming up in his country in April.

The Chadian leader thanked President Buhari for receiving him,
saying, “We are neighbours facing similar challenges.”

He added that he was also around to explore other bilateral
issues, in addition to security.

Fielding questions from state house correspondents on the
position of Chad in advancing the functionality of the
multinational joint task force formed to fight the insurgency in
the Lake Chad region, President Itno said that the Boko Haram
crisis will be definitively tackled, given new strategies that
would be employed.

He further noted that tackling the insurgent group has been made
difficult with operations carried out just once a year, but he is
confident that with the change of security operatives both within
Nigeria and the multinational joint task force, there is more hope
for an end to the crisis.