Nigeria and Chad have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger bilateral cooperation following the delivery of a special invitation from Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Africa Water Summit.
The invitation was conveyed on Monday in Abuja by Chad’s Special Envoy and Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, Tahir Hammid Nguilin, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the summit will formally launch the Water Forward Initiative in Africa, a programme being implemented in partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions.
Nguilin said the summit aims to elevate water security as a strategic continental priority through sustainable financing for water resources, irrigation, sanitation, agriculture and livestock development.
He noted that participating countries would sign partnership agreements with development partners, while African leaders are expected to adopt a declaration placing water security at the heart of Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
“President Tinubu’s participation would significantly strengthen continental efforts towards addressing Africa’s water challenges and promoting inclusive socio-economic development,” the Chadian envoy said.
Receiving the invitation on behalf of President Tinubu, Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked President Déby for the gesture and described the proposed summit as timely, given the growing importance of water security to food production, environmental protection, climate resilience and regional stability.
She highlighted ongoing cooperation between Nigeria and Chad on issues affecting the Lake Chad Basin, including environmental degradation, insecurity and the shrinking of Lake Chad.
“Nigeria considers the restoration and sustainable management of Lake Chad as a strategic priority,” she said, adding that revitalising the basin would boost agriculture, fisheries, irrigation, livestock production, commerce and regional integration.
The minister stressed that investment in water infrastructure could help address the root causes of insecurity by creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods across communities in the region.
She also welcomed Chad’s call for enhanced continental cooperation on water governance and assured the delegation that the invitation would be forwarded to President Tinubu through the appropriate channels for consideration.
Both countries reaffirmed their longstanding relations and pledged to deepen collaboration in water resources management, agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, regional security, trade and economic integration.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of Nigeria and Chad to advancing sustainable development and tackling common challenges through stronger regional partnerships.
