President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday reiterated the recharging of Lake Chad will help to reduce the irregular migration of youths striving to get into Europe through the Sahara Desert.
He stated this while hosting President of Chad, Marshal Idris Deby Itno, at the State House in Abuja.
A statement signed by spokesman Femi Adesina, pointed out that “about 30 million people are adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad.”
It is expected that the water transfer to the Lake Chad from the Congo Basin, will help people resume their normal lives.
He noted 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 President disclosed he had been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and beyond, on the need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit more, but it is also advantageous to everyone.
On the recharge of Lake Chad, Chadian President Itno urged Buhari to consider convening an international summit to move the idea forward.
