Lake Chad Basin communities to get €1m development fund

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the Irish Government has promised to support the revival of the Lake Chad Basin communities with one million euros.

Ogbeh while disclosing this at the unveiling of a three year response strategy for the Lake Chad Basin,  commended the initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to support the revival.

According to him, there are predictions that Nigeria would lose millions of people to hunger in the North East region.

“If we enrich the rural people, crisis will be reduced.

I am happy that the Irish Ambassador is here because they have set aside one million euros to support this programme, “he said.

Governor Kasim Shettima of Borno while noting that the programme would bring peace to the region,  said “we have 54,911 widows, 53,311 orphans in the state. It is either we take care of these orphans and widows or they will be the next generation of Boko Haram.

“You cannot have peace without development and you cannot develop without peace”, he added

The governor said that the North East was the most neglected region in the country.

“The direct response by the FAO is a welcome development because once we create job, engage the youths, this madness will stop,” Shettima added.

The Director General of FAO, Mr Jose’ da Silva, said the organisation requested for 62 million dollars humanitarian assistance but got only 10 million dollars.

Da’Silva said that both food assistance and food production was needed to rehabilitate and boast food security in the area.

He called on the Federal, states and donor partners to assist in reviving agriculture in the area.