FG Vows To Support In Addressing Crises At Lake Chad Region

The Federal Government has vowed to partner in the collaborative efforts to see to the end of the multidimensional crises facing the Lake Chad Basin States.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), made this known, on Thursday, when he received a delegation of the United Nations and Lake Chad Basin Commission who were in Nigeria for a high-level political advocacy visit.

Malami’s media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, said in a statement that the delegation, comprised of the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa/ahel; Mr Mahamat Seleh Annadif, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Africa; Mr Francois Lounceny Fall and the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Ambassador Mamman Nuhu.

The AGF noted with dismay that judging from the security challenges presently confronting Nigeria and some of the Lake Chad Basin States, several lives have been lost, including the lives of soldiers and millions of dollars of properties have been either vandalised or completely destroyed.

He lamented that monies that could have been spent on developmental programs/projects have been spent on efforts to checkmate and bring to a halt the activities of the Boko Haram, bandits and secessionists threats.

According to the Minister, Nigeria has adopted several strategies geared towards ending the security challenges including cushioning the effects of the war on victims, such as the internally displaced persons as well as modalities to boost the infrastructural and economic development of the regions.

Some of the strategies adopted by the Federal Government, he said, included, “The establishment of the North East Development Commission for the development of the damaged infrastructure as well as to provide the most needed infrastructure; de-radicalization strategies for upholding peace in order to win the war on terrorism; the repatriation of Nigerian Refugees in Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republics; conciliation and compensation of victims, prosecution of Boko Haram cases at Kainji, New Bussa Courts.”

The Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Mahamat Saleh, in his remarks, reiterated the commitments of the UN to support countries around Lake Chad Basin to address the challenges of insecurity.

He stressed the importance of synergy on the part of international actors to support respective countries as, according to him, there are many issues that connect the Sahel, Nigeria Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger and Liberia.

While noting that with the massive surrender of ex-fighters, the Boko Haram is getting weaker, Mahamat said Nigeria has a leading role in addressing crises in the region.