President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for international assistance to help the Niger Basin region, which is home to more than 160 million people who rely on the river for their livelihoods.
Buhari made the remarks when opening the Niger Basin Authority' s virtual 12th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Thursday.
This was said in a statement by Femi Adesina, the President' s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, headed " President Buhari appeals for global support to improve the Niger Basin. "
The Niger River, according to the president' s statement, provides significant growth prospects in fish farming, animal husbandry, agriculture, fishing, hydropower, hydraulics, and navigation.
' ' As a result, it is critical to continue to promote its immense potential for the benefit of our people and to boost the region' s socio- economic development. "
He expressed gratitude to the authority' s technical and financial partners, including the African Development Bank, the Global Environment Fund, and the German Financial Cooperation, for sharing the authority' s vision and programs.
He also encouraged them to continue to support efforts to enhance the Niger Basin in the fight against pollution and ecosystem degradation.
Buhari, who is stepping down as Chairman of the NBA Leaders' Summit, offered an overview of his five- year tenure as the organization' s leader.
' ' Excellencies, it has been a honor to lead this Summit of Heads of State and Government for the past five years, since you overwhelmingly endorsed me as Chairman at the 11th Summit, held in Cotonou, Benin Republic on January 8, 2016, to lead our joint Institution, " he remarked.
Only the finance choice for the NBA 2016- 2024 Operational Plan has yet to be completely executed of the various decisions made at the Summit.
' ' It is important to note that some ongoing programs, such as Support to Ground Water Management in the Niger Basin, Project II to Strengthen NBA and its Member Countries' Technical Capacity and Human Resources for Improving Transboundary Groundwater Resource Management in the Niger Basin, are important to note.
He listed a number of other ongoing projects, including the AfDB- funded Integrated Development and Climate Change Adaptation in the Niger Basin, which is funded by the AfDB, the GEF, the KFW, and NBA Member Countries.
He said that the climate change initiative will include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d' Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, as well as the nine NBA member countries.
The President also expressed gratitude to the Authority' s outgoing Executive Secretary, Abderahim Hamid, for his service, noting that a new Executive Secretary and Chairman will be appointed at the 12th Summit.
My term as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of our joint institution will come to an end at this Summit, as I will be succeeded by a new Chairman.
" I implore you to give the incoming Chairman your full cooperation in order for our Institution to continue to run smoothly. "
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