By Aliyu DANLADI
The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the African Union (AU), have begun the processes of promoting regional integration and stabilisation in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
At the Opening of a Ministerial Conference on the AU/LCBC Regional Stabilisation Strategy Meeting in Abuja on Monday, LCBC Executive Secretary, Mr Nuhu Mamman, , noted that the meeting was targeted at discussing modalities for validating the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of areas affected by insurgency.
In this, regard, Mamaan said at the end of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed to begin the implementation of the strategy to reintegrate displaced persons, provide humanitarian assistance, among others.
According to him, the almost decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has had a devastating impact on communities in countries within the Lake Chad Basin.
“On the recommendation of the First Conference on Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency that was held in November 2017 in N’Djamena, Chad, a Regional Stabilisation, Resilience and Recovery strategy was developed.
“The strategy reflects the different levels of engagements from community to regional that will be critical in efforts aimed at pursuing the goal of stabilising the regions that have witnessed a crisis of global magnitude.
He added that the validation exercise would ensure that the draft strategy received the required endorsement and adoption by the affected countries through their respective ministers, who are the first and second Commissioners of LCBC member states.
He also said the strategy would lead to disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement of Boko Haram Disengaged Combatants, and the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and refugees.
Representative AU Chairperson Ms Hadiza Mustapha, pledged the support of the commission to support the implementation of programmes and policies that would improve the lives of those in the basin.
Mustapha said ending the humanitarian crises in the basin cannot be left in the hands of military alone, saying there was the need for multi-stakeholders collaboration to restore the basin.
She said there was the need for member states to improve government institutions in order to promote rule of law, provide psychosocial support and de-radicalisation, while taking into consideration specific needs of gender and young persons.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria, Dr Musa Ibrahim, appreciated the LCBC and the AU commission for their continuous support.
Ibrahim called on experts to carefully review and analyse the strategy content for prompt endorsement.
He said it was on record that the basin, home to no fewer than 40 million inhabitants has suffered untold socio-economic hardship and political losses due to activities of the boko haram sect.
He expressed optimism that the strategy would enable the resumption of socio-economic activities and the return of normalcy.
Dr Samuel Bwalya, Country Director, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, said that there was the need to reverse the cycle of poverty and violence permeating the region, noting that all stakeholders must join hands to make it a reality.
He said the UN would continue to partner the LCBC towards promoting stability, resilience and recovery, adding that provision of life-saving assistance would continue.
TBI Africa reports that the UN said the violent rise and resilience of the jihadist group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin since 2009 posed enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges.
Four countries caught up in the insurgency are Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
TBI Africa reports that the world body said the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced nearly 2.4 million people in the Lake Chad Basin.
