Civil Society organizations from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger have called for increased technological innovation in the Lake Chad region to tackle rising crime and the illegal spread of small arms.

Speaking at the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Yobe State, Ambassador Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the Borno State Agency for Great Green Walls, emphasized the urgent need for regional governments to rehabilitate communities. He highlighted the role of agriculture in reducing reliance on degraded land and fostering economic stability.

Dr. Murtala Mohammad, CEO of System Strategy and Policy Lab, urged cross-border collaboration to develop strategic empowerment programs for residents. He stressed that disconnecting local populations from insurgent financiers is crucial in combating terrorism. He also proposed a centralized monitoring dashboard to track human and arms movement while addressing climate change and poverty-related challenges.

Meanwhile, Aisha Kabu Damboa, Executive Director of Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS), called on regional governments to foster unity among citizens, particularly those in communities surrounding Lake Chad. She underlined the importance of security awareness in safeguarding residents.

A forum participant further stressed the need to address youth vulnerability to Boko Haram recruitment. He advised governments to actively involve young people in policymaking to prevent them from being drawn into extremist groups. He concluded by emphasizing the creation of economic opportunities as a key deterrent against radicalization.

The forum reinforced the need for a multi-faceted approach, combining technology, security reforms, economic development, and community engagement, to stabilize the Lake Chad region.