Nigeria and Chad have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receiving a formal invitation to participate in the forthcoming Africa Water Summit aimed at advancing water security and sustainable development across the continent.
The invitation was delivered by Chad’s Special Envoy, Tahir Hammid Nguilin, who also serves as the country’s Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.
Nguilin conveyed a special message from Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, inviting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to attend the summit, which will officially launch the Water Forward Initiative in Africa in partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral development partners.
According to the Chadian envoy, the summit seeks to make water security a strategic priority for Africa by mobilising sustainable financing for water resources, irrigation, sanitation, agriculture and livestock development. Participating countries are expected to sign country-specific partnership agreements with development partners, while African leaders will adopt a declaration placing water security at the heart of the continent’s sustainable development agenda.
He stressed that Nigeria’s participation would be critical to the initiative’s success, noting that President Tinubu’s attendance would strengthen continental efforts to tackle Africa’s water challenges and promote inclusive socio-economic growth.
Receiving the invitation on behalf of the President, Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked President Déby Itno for the gesture and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with Chad.
She described the proposed summit as timely, given the increasing importance of water security to food production, climate resilience, environmental sustainability and regional stability.
The minister also highlighted the close collaboration between Nigeria and Chad in addressing challenges facing the Lake Chad Basin Commission, including the shrinking of Lake Chad, environmental degradation, insecurity and the socio-economic impact on communities dependent on the basin.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria considers the restoration and sustainable management of Lake Chad a strategic priority, noting that revitalising the basin would boost agriculture, fisheries, irrigation, livestock production, navigation, commerce and regional integration while reducing poverty and promoting lasting peace.
She further emphasised that expanding water infrastructure would help address the root causes of insecurity by creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods across the Lake Chad Basin.
The minister welcomed Chad’s call for stronger continental cooperation on water governance and assured the visiting delegation that the invitation would be transmitted to President Tinubu through the appropriate channels for consideration.
Both countries reaffirmed their longstanding partnership, built on shared history, geographical proximity and common security interests, while pledging to deepen cooperation in water resources management, agriculture, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, regional security, trade and economic integration.
