Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable development.
She said the affirmation during a strategic session with the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority, Mr. Kocou Armand Houanye, and members of his delegation currently touring member states of the Authority.
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The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration among countries within the Niger Basin and advancing initiatives aimed at tackling climate change, environmental degradation, and socio-economic challenges affecting communities along the Niger River.
The Niger Basin Authority is made up of nine member states bordering the Niger River, including Niger, Benin, Chad, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
Central to the discussions was the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC), a multinational initiative funded by the African Development Bank.
The programme is designed to address the growing environmental threats facing the Niger Basin, particularly the silting of the Niger River and the vulnerability of communities affected by climate change.
The initiative seeks to improve climate resilience among vulnerable populations while promoting climate-smart agriculture, fisheries, and agro-pastoral activities across participating countries.
It also aims to enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunities for local communities dependent on the river basin for their livelihoods.
Discussions further highlighted the programme’s poverty reduction component, which focuses on empowering rural farmers, women, and youths through the provision of farming equipment, skills development, and agribusiness training aimed at improving productivity and creating sustainable sources of income.
The engagement underscored the shared commitment of member states to deepen regional cooperation in addressing climate and development challenges while leveraging collective resources to improve the livelihoods of millions living within the Niger Basin.
