By Tosin Kolade
The Niger Basin Authority (NBA) has called for stronger regional cooperation and strategic investments to promote peace, stability and shared prosperity in the Niger and Lake Chad basins.
Mr Kocou Houanye, Executive Secretary, NBA, made the call on Monday at the Regional Conference on Hydro-Diplomacy and Strategic Investments for Shared Prosperity in Transboundary Basins in Abuja.
Houanye said the conference provided an opportunity for countries and institutions within the two transboundary basins to strengthen dialogue, address shared challenges and promote sustainable development.
He said the three-day conference, jointly organised by the NBA and Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), provided a neutral platform for dialogue and negotiations on conflicts linked to natural resources and environmental challenges.
According to him, the Niger and Lake Chad basins face ecological, socio-economic and security challenges, with large populations depending on their natural resources for livelihoods.
He said the challenges required stronger collaboration among member states and development partners to improve resilience and expand access to development opportunities.
Houanye called for accelerated implementation of strategic investments, particularly in infrastructure and agriculture, describing them as important drivers of peace, stability and shared prosperity.
He expressed hope that the conference would produce practical recommendations to strengthen synergy among stakeholders and the role of the two basin organisations as platforms for regional dialogue.
The NBA executive secretary said the conference would be followed by a session of the NBA regional steering committee to review previous operations and consider a work plan and budget for the next phase of its programmes.
He said participants would also review activities of dam agencies operating within the Niger Basin and adopt recommendations to improve implementation of ongoing programmes.
Houanye said implementation of the Programme for Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin had improved, with physical implementation rising from 37 per cent to 48.3 per cent and financial implementation from 17 per cent to 57 per cent.
He added that the programme’s commitment rate had also risen from 49 per cent to 92 per cent.
He 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.
Houanye said discussions were underway with development partners on the next phase of the programme, with efforts to expand its coverage to more member countries.
He said sustained political commitment and development-partner support would be necessary to consolidate the gains and mobilise further strategic investments across the basin.
Mrs Hanna Albrecht, German Cooperation representative, called for stronger regional cooperation and coordinated responses to challenges affecting the Niger and Lake Chad basins.
Albrecht said climate change, pressure on natural resources, insecurity and threats to livelihoods were interconnected challenges whose effects transcended national borders.
She said responses should be based on the realities and needs of affected communities, adding that women and young people should be central to efforts to create sustainable economic opportunities.
The representative commended the NBA and LCBC for sustaining dialogue among member states and developing joint responses despite difficult conditions.
She said the cooperation was supporting both basin organisations through its programmes and remained committed to helping member states develop coordinated responses.
Albrecht said technical knowledge, institutional dialogue and community participation needed to complement one another to develop appropriate interventions, prevent tensions and promote sustainable development.
She expressed hope that the conference would facilitate experience sharing, clarify priorities and promote partnerships capable of delivering concrete results.
She said the proposed Abuja Declaration should provide a common direction and support follow-up to commitments made at the conference.
Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Executive Secretary, LCBC, 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.
Babani said the tools would also help assess groundwater storage suitability and would be incorporated into an interactive dashboard at the commission’s headquarters in N’Djamena.
He said the conference was a call to action to protect water resources and build resilient societies, stressing the importance of women and young people as decision-makers, peace mediators, innovators and partners in water diplomacy.
Babani said cooperation with member states, traditional leaders, civil society and development partners had deepened understanding of the links between security, livelihoods and natural-resource management.
He said the LCBC remained committed to implementing the conference outcomes across member states and strengthening cooperation with the NBA and partner institutions, especially ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The LCBC executive secretary said transboundary basin organisations should serve as platforms for peace, regional integration and mobilisation of investments to strengthen resilience, stability and prosperity.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening cooperation between the NBA and LCBC as part of efforts to advance water security, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Utsev said the conference aligned with African Union and ECOWAS frameworks on equity, inclusion, peace, stability, climate adaptation and sustainable development.
He said cooperation among governments, financial institutions, development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector was critical to addressing the region’s interconnected water, environmental and socio-economic challenges.
The minister said Nigeria would continue working with the NBA, LCBC, ECOWAS and other stakeholders to promote a practical, inclusive and investment-oriented water agenda.
He urged participants to translate discussions into concrete actions, particularly in water supply and sanitation, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, infrastructure and human development.
Utsev appreciated the leadership of the NBA and LCBC for their efforts to translate regional cooperation into tangible results and urged continued support for initiatives that would benefit communities across the two basins.
Angela Keyede, NBA National Focal Structure, said the conference would strengthen cooperation among Niger and Lake Chad basin countries on water management, climate resilience, peace, security and development.
Keyede said the meeting would promote gender-responsive approaches to hydrodiplomacy and strategic investments, stressing the need to include women and vulnerable groups in transboundary water governance. (NAN)
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
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