The Niger Basin Authority (NBA) has called for stronger regional cooperation and strategic investments in water resources, agriculture and infrastructure to address growing security, environmental and socio-economic challenges in the Niger and Lake Chad basins.
The Executive Secretary of NBA, Mr Kocou Houanye, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day regional conference on hydrodiplomacy, gender and strategic investments.
Houanye said the two transboundary basins faced interconnected ecological, socio-economic and security challenges, with millions of people depending on their natural resources for their livelihoods.
He said the challenges could not be effectively addressed by individual countries, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among member states and development partners.
According to him, the conference provides a neutral platform for countries and institutions within the two basins to dialogue and negotiate on conflicts linked to natural resources and environmental challenges.
Houanye called for accelerated implementation of strategic investments, particularly in infrastructure and agriculture, describing them as important drivers of peace, stability and shared prosperity across the region.
He said stronger cooperation was also needed to improve resilience and expand access to development opportunities for communities dependent on the basins.
The NBA executive secretary said progress had been recorded in the implementation of the Programme for Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin, with physical implementation increasing from 37 per cent to 48.3 per cent and financial implementation rising from 17 per cent to 57 per cent.
He added that the programme’s commitment rate had increased from 49 per cent to 92 per cent.
Houanye commended the Nigerian Government for its political, technical and financial support to the NBA, saying implementation of the programme in Nigeria had recorded significant progress.
He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with development partners on the next phase of the programme, including efforts to extend its coverage to more member countries.
Also speaking, the German Cooperation representative, Mrs Hanna Albrecht, said climate change, pressure on natural resources, insecurity and threats to livelihoods were interconnected challenges requiring coordinated regional responses.
Albrecht said responses should reflect the realities of affected communities, stressing that women and young people should be central to efforts to create sustainable economic opportunities.
She said technical knowledge, institutional dialogue and community participation must work together to develop appropriate interventions, prevent tensions and promote sustainable development.
The Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, said the commission was strengthening member states’ capacity to assess water use and demand through tools for mapping cropland, determining crop water requirements and identifying areas with water deficits and surpluses.
He said the tools would also support assessment of groundwater storage suitability and would be incorporated into an interactive dashboard at the commission’s headquarters in N’Djamena.
Babani described the conference as a call to protect water resources and build resilient societies, stressing the need to recognise women and young people as decision-makers, peace mediators, innovators and partners in water diplomacy.
He said the LCBC’s cooperation with member states, traditional leaders, civil society and development partners had deepened understanding of the links between security, livelihoods and natural-resource management.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening cooperation between the NBA and LCBC to advance water security, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Utsev said governments, financial institutions, development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector must work together to address the region’s interconnected water, environmental and socio-economic challenges.
He urged participants to translate the conference discussions into concrete actions, particularly in water supply and sanitation, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, infrastructure and human development.
The minister said Nigeria would continue to work with the NBA, LCBC, ECOWAS and other stakeholders to promote what he described as a practical, inclusive and investment-oriented water agenda.
The conference is expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening regional dialogue, cooperation and strategic investments across the two basins, with a proposed Abuja Declaration expected to provide a common direction for follow-up action.