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The House of Representatives has passed a motion calling for the recharge and restoration of Lake Chad in order to address the severe economic and humanitarian consequences caused by its shrinking.

Hon Ahmed Mohammed Munir from Kaduna moved the motion at the plenary session on Tuesday. In his speech, Munir stated that “Lake Chad, the largest endorheic basin in Africa, has been rapidly shrinking due to climate change and unsustainable water management practices.”

The shrinking of Lake Chad has resulted in dire economic challenges, displacing millions of people who now live in poverty. Additionally, this has increased the threat of security risks and extremism, which has national and international implications.

Moreover, the legislators highlighted the World Bank’s 2006 report stating that the Inter-Basin Water Transfer, which aims to recharge and restore the lake, has minimal environmental impact. Restoring Lake Chad would not only revive fishing and other aquatic industries but also provide opportunities for enhanced national security, food security, agriculture, tourism, urban water supply, and the revitalization of moribund irrigation schemes.

The House unanimously adopted the motion and called on the Nigerian Government to initiate high-level diplomatic engagement for regional cooperation among the five member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. This cooperation will serve as the foundation for broader international collaboration.

Furthermore, the Government was urged to work closely with international organizations to leverage their technical expertise and secure resources from various sources including international development banks and bilateral aid agencies to ensure the successful completion of the project.

In addition, several committees were assigned to ensure compliance with the motion, including the Committees on Water Resources, Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Climate Change, North East Development Commission, Lake Chad, Aids, Loan and Debt Management, Cooperation and Integration in Africa, and Legislative Compliance (when constituted).

The House also appealed to the Nigerian Government to allocate significant resources in the 2024 budget of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for an up-to-date feasibility study. The study will explore options to increase the volume of water in Lake Chad by diverting water from the Oubangui River.

It is hoped that these actions will contribute to the recovery and revitalization of Lake Chad, benefiting not only the region but also the millions of individuals whose livelihoods depend on it.

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