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Governor Zulum of Borno State
By Dauda R. Pam, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has charged the United Nations and the International community to offer priority support to states in the Lake Chad Basin suffering from myriad of insurgency problems on the region.
The Governor Ppmade the call when the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif alongside his counterpart of the Central Africa (UNOCA) Mr. Francois Lounceny Fall, who paid him a courtesy visit at the government house on Friday in Maiduguri.
The UN officials were in Maiduguri to re-affirm the support of the United Nations and the EU to the states of the Lake Chad Basin in the incessant fight against terrorism and to enhance joint high-level advocacy between UN-EU and LCBC in-order to accelerate the implementation of the Regional Stabilization Strategy of the Lake Chad Basin and engage with affected communities to get first hand appraisal of the situation on ground.
The Governor who made reference to resolution 2349 (2017) that was adopted by the United Nations Security Council at its 7911th meeting, on 31st March 2017, called upon governments in the region to take further measures to address social, political, economic and gender inequalities amidst several other problems.
He called for international support to recharge the Lake Chad through some identified water sources, which he said, when completed will provide employment opportunities to millions of people across the borders of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
“I would like to urge your two distinguished offices to join us in championing the recharging of the Lake Chad through already identified water sources from within Nigerian territory which will not only help rebuilding livelihood in the Lake Chad region, but also reduce flooding in parts of Nigeria and encourage irrigation along the rivers. This reduces other humanitarian crises and increase food security. This is central to attainment of peace and stability in the region.” Zulum said.
The UN Special Representatives to the West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif and his counterpart of the Central Africa said, their mission covers the four countries of the Lake Chad Basin,Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon Republics.
Also, Mr. Francois Lounceny Fall, the Special Representative of the Secretary General to Central Africa (UNOCA)has commended the Borno state Governor for his exemplary leadership.
“I would like to commend the leadership of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum as Governor, I know the positive role he has played to put in place the forum of Lake Chad Governors as recently demonstrated during the third meeting of the Governors in Younde Cameroun” Fall said.
On the entourage the UN Secretary General were the United Nations Resident Humanitarian Co-ordinator to Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, Senior military and Political Affairs Officers.
