Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Country Director, WaterAid, told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, that Lake Chad is shrinking, and the shrinking is threatening the livelihoods of people in the region.
Aniagolu-Okoye called for improve strategies to manage the water resource to remedy losses. She also called for the involvement of water experts, particularly Geologists, in proffering solutions to the diminishing of the lake.
She said: “Lake Chad, the largest freshwater reservoir, is an important resource shared by Nigeria and other benefiting countries within the region.
“The lake sustains a lot of people, who are largely farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders.
“The speedy shrinking of the basin is threatening the resources and livelihoods of millions of people who are living there.
“There is no doubt that the management of the lake requires greater resources and expertise; involvement of water experts is certainly a welcome intervention.’’
The WaterAid official further disclosed that the shrinking has caused millions of inhabitants of the basin to move to the hinterlands due to inability to carry out fishing and other agricultural activities.
“Most of the people living around the lake have been displaced by natural forces.
“These forces include drought and desertification brought about by the effects of climate change; high winds and temperature in the region have resulted in diminishing resources of the Lake Chad Basin.’’ she added.
