The Lake Chad Basin Commission, in collaboration with the African Union, United Nations Development Programme and Crisis Management Initiative have met in Younde which was hosted by the Cameroonian Government to discuss regional security co-operation and path to improve stability.
The Cameroonian Prime Minister, Josph Dion Ngute declared the meeting open and was accompanied by the Mayor of Younde, Mr Luc Messi Atangana who discussed security issues with focus on terror attacks and humanitarian impacts in the region.
The meeting also reviewed implementation of strategies for regional stabilization, which were adopted in 2019, during a similar meeting in Niamey, Niger Republic.
The Governors in attendance were, Zulum from Borno, Issa Lamine of Diffa in Niger Republic; Midjiyawa Bakari of Far North of Cameroon; Abate Edii Jean from North Region of Cameroon; Mahamat Fadoul Mackaye from Lac Province of Chad and Amina Kodjyana Agnes – Hadjer Lami also from Chad, while Governors of Adamawa and Yobe States in northeast Nigeria, were represented.
Governor Zulum in his submission, stressed the need to drastically raise the level of trans border cooperation on security before strategic and territorial action plans can work.
“All these territorial action plans can never be feasible without security, the first thing that we need in the entire region is to address security issues.
“Especially in the shores of Lake Chad. It is necessary to undertake holistic security operations in the shores of Lake Chad in order to clear the insurgents, otherwise, we are not going anywhere.”
Governor Zulum also expressed great concern over the non-utilization of Lake Chad Basin’s shore which he noted, can provide huge economic potentials to benefit the people of the region.
“Already Borno Government is making effort, towards establishing free trade zones in Banki town Bama LGA, Gamboru in Ngala, Baga in Kukawa and Damasak in Mobbar LGA of Borno State, to enhance socio-economic activities within the Lake region in line with territorial action plans for stabilization.”
The Governor called on member states to engage in identifying and addressing root causes of boko haram crisis, and combine measures other than military operations.
