Jonathan made the call at the opening session of the 14th Summit of the LCBC holding in the Chadian capital.
Jonathan arrived in N’djamena on Monday morning to join five other Heads of State and Government for the summit.
The President expressed concern at the new spate of insecurity and the threat to peace around the borders of the lake.
He said the perpetrators, particularly in Nigeria, were taking advantage of the free movement around the border areas and urged member states to regard the security threat as capable of affecting the sub region.
Jonathan stated that the terror attacks would have wider implication on peace in the West African sub region.
The President suggested the expansion of the mandate of the existing multi-national joint task force around the lake, as part of measures to contain the security threats.
``It has become urgent to give a new mandate to the multi-national joint task force to include cooperation in dealing with such cross-border insurgency within area of coverage.
``Our approach should be holistic and robust to address the general security issues around the common border areas,’’ he said.
The President also underscored the urgent need to give a new lease of life to the activities of the commission to move it forward.
He said that after 48 years of existence, there was the need to provide the LCBC Secretariat with the necessary tools to function as a modern and forward looking organisation.
Jonathan challenged the member states should show more commitment to saving the lake.
He noted the effect of climate change and its socio economic impact on human habitation, the ecology and bio-diversity of the basin.
The President re-affirmed the commitment of Nigeria to meet its financial obligations to the commission and called on other member states to also meet their obligations.
On equitable sharing of the resources of the basin, Jonathan said the commission should adopt the ``Water Charter’’ initiative of the organisation.
He said the charter, if adopted, would also set the basis for the the participation of international development partners in saving the basin from extinction.
Jonathan expressed delight on the feasibility study on inter-basin water transfer from Oubangi River in Central Africa Republic to Lake Chad.
``The good news which we have all received today is that the project is feasible and life and hope can return to our population around the lake.
``Nigeria, as you know, has been very supportive of this project
``It remains very dear to our hearts and we will continue to lend every support in whatever is needed to carry out more detailed study on environmental impact assessment as well as other needed hydraulics toward its full realisation,’’ he said.
Earlier in his remark, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Sanusi Abdullahi, stressed the need to reverse the drastic shrinking of the lake, in order to harness the resources of the basin in a more sustainable manner.
He said that the lake, which served as a common heritage and source of livelihood to over 30 million inhabitants, would go into extinction if urgent measures were not taken.
The lake provided water for the economic activities of the inhabitants who are mainly fishermen, farmers and cattle rearers.
On the water transfer project, Abdullahi, a Nigerian, said the study concluded that it was technically feasible, and remained the primary option to save the lake from extinction.
He said the project, if executed, would increase the present level of the lake up to 1.5 metres with an area increase of about 7,500 sq. km in four to five years.
Abdullahi said that the lake had shrunk from its approximated 25,000 sq km coverage in 1962 to the present 1,300 sq km radius.
``The execution of the project is expected to restore socio-economic activities in the sub-region and help to alleviate poverty in the basin,’’ he said.
The Executive Secretary said the estimated cost of the water transfer project was N14.5 billion US Dollars.
He said with the exclusion of Nigeria and Chad which updated its contribution, a sum of 4.34 million CFA remained outstanding against other member states.
Abdullahi expressed gratitude to Nigeria and Chad for payment of regular contribution and commitment to the activities of the commission.
President Issufou Maahamadou of Niger, Francois Bozize of Central Africa Republic, and Idris Debby, of the host country attended the summit.
Cameroon, Libya as well as Sudan which had been granted observer status were represented at the summit.
Jonathan urges Nigerians not to be discouraged by terrorist attacks
President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians and foreigners resident in the country not to be discouraged by the recent upsurge in terrorist attacks in parts of the country.
Jonathan who made the appeal said Nigerians must go about their normal business and resolve to collectively defeat those perpetrating evil in the country.
He condemned the upsurge in terrorist attacks, the latest of which occurred in Jalingo on Monday, saying the administration would not waver in its commitment to restore peace and stability in the country.
Jonathan assured that the government would curb terrorism and bring the perpetrators and sponsors to justice.
The President also reassured Nigerians and foreigners resident in the country that the administration was taking every necessary action to end the attacks.
He noted that the success in the war against terrorism would be speedily achieved with greater support and assistance from affected communities.
Jonathan called on all patriotic Nigerians to promptly report all suspicious persons to security agencies.
He condoled with the families of the victims of the bomb attacks in Jalingo and wished the injured speedy recovery.
Makinde wants Nigerians to be more vigilant over terrorist acts
Most Rev. Ola Makinde, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, on Monday urged Nigerians to be more vigilant now than ever before about terrorist acts in the country.
Makinde made the call at the presentation of communiqué of the 30th Council of Bishops Meeting held at St. Andrew’s Methodist Cathedral, Awada in Obosi, Anambra.
The theme of the six-day conference was ``Behold I am Doing a New Thing’’.
The Prelate expressed conviction that the insurgency of terrorism would be defeated through vigilance and fervent prayers.
``For now, it has turned to a spiritual warfare between the forces of evil and good in this country.
``Except we are not serving a living God in this country, Boko Haram or whatever name you call it, that is gearing-up to disintegrate this country, must be defeated."
Makinde also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to step up the necessary measures to end the upsurge in terrorism and gave an assurance that the evil forces would be subdued eventually as it was in the past.
``President Jonathan, all political, religious and traditional rulers should collaborate with security agencies to put an end to this menace and avert further threat to the peaceful co-existence of the country".
Meanwhile, the Council of Bishops has lauded the Federal Government and the National Assembly on the on-going probe of Pension funds, Petroleum subsidy and PHCN.
It stated that findings of the various panels should be implemented and those found guilty punished.
The council's commendation is contained in the communique, which also lauded the Federal Government on the completion of the Onitsha River Port.
The council urged the government to commence work on the proposed 2nd Niger Bridge in order to reduce the suffering of Nigerians using the existing bridge and safe it from collapse.
``While commending President Goodluck Jonathan on his achievements in less then one year in office, Council calls on him and all political office holders to show a stronger political will to face the challenges of electricity, unemployment, job creation and good road network".
On the international scene, the communiqué applauded the conviction of Chief James Ibori, a former Governor of Delta and Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, respectively.
``Council is hopeful that this will send a warning signal to all those who may want to abuse their offices.
"Council, therefore, calls on the Nigerian judiciary to be more firm in the dispensation of justice in the country.
NLC wants FG to dormulate benefitial policies
The President, Nigerian Labour Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar, on Monday in Abuja called on the government to introduce policies that would benefit Nigerians and check insecurity in the country.
He made the call at a joint NLC and Trade Union Congress 2012 May Day Symposium with the theme, ``Right to Work, Food and Education: Panacea to Insecurity ”.
Omar said that the government should pursue policies that had no adverse effects on the people.
The NLC president condemned the decision by some banks to layoff some workers as a result of the introduction of ``cashless society” policy.
He noted that Zenith Bank announced recently its decision to layoff about 2,500 workers because of the policy.
``Government should take the lead in tackling insecurity in the nation; it should not be business as usual,’’ Omar said.
He said the government should not introduce policies without thinking of the repercussions on the people, adding: ``We cannot continue to come up with policies that will always end up punishing the citizens.''
He said that job insecurity had led to the state of insecurity in the country, thereby exposing youths to criminal acts.
In his remarks, Ali Chiroma, a former NLC president, said the government should pay more attention to job creation in ``practical terms”.
Chiroma urged the government to come up with policies that would support creation of jobs rather than the ones that would create more problems for the people.
In his comments, Hassan Sunmonu, the founding president of NLC, reiterated the need to make skills acquisition an integral part of the educational system and called for a change in ``the get-rich-quick” mentality.
Sunmonu urged the government to tackle insecurity by providing the basic needs of Nigerians and formulating policies that would enhance their well-being.
``A generator-run industry is not a competitive and sustainable industry; neo-liberalism is not sustainable because Nigeria is a communal society.
``Leaders should make the interest of Nigerians their own interest and they have to be accountable for it.''
Also speaking, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije noted that ensuring security in the country ``rests largely on education”.
Chukwumerije described education as an integral part of human development, saying the level of insecurity in the country would be reduced with a change in education policy.
He urged the government to come up with a ``Marshall Plan” to coordinate the funds and personnel involved in implementing education policies.
He noted that the Universal Basic Education scheme ``is no longer free or basic” and called for synergy at all levels to make it free and compulsory.
The symposium was held ahead of Tuesday’s May Day celebration.
No comments:
Post a Comment