Lake Chad: Chadian President Urges Nigerian Counterpart To Convene International Summit

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said the restoration of Lake Chad will help to reduce the irregular migration of youths striving to get into Europe through the Sahara Desert.

He made the remark while hosting the President of Chad, Marshal Idris Deby Itno, at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power.

According to the President, about 30 million people are adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad, which is now just about ten percent of its original size.

He added that with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing, animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures, the statement noted.

On the recharge of Lake Chad, Chadian President Itno counseled Buhari to consider convening an international summit to move the idea forward.

Meanwhile, Buhari appreciated Chad for its role in curbing insurgency in the region, particularly the Boko Haram challenge.