![]() |
Amina Mohammed |
United Nations, UN, Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed has
attributed the rise of Boko Haram terrorism in Northeast Nigeria largely
to the drying up of the once thriving Lake Chad.
Mohammed stated this in Stockholm in her remarks to the opening
plenary of 2018 World Water Week with theme: ‘Water, Ecosystems and
Human Development, at the Heart of the Global Agendas’.
The deputy UN scribe recounted her experience as Minister of
Environment of Nigeria and Chair of Water Supply and Sanitation
Collaborative Council.
According to her, she saw first-hand the disastrous human
consequences of badly-managed water resources and ecosystems, noting the
importance of protecting the environment and conserving resources for
sustainable development.
“I was raised in north-eastern Nigeria, where lack of access to clean
water and sanitation is a major challenge”, NAN quoted her as saying.
“Lake Chad was once the chief source of economic activity for this
region, providing food and economic opportunities to nearly 30 million
people.
“Today, the lake has shrunk by 90 per cent. Some predict it could disappear entirely by the end of this century.
“This drying of the lake and the advance of desertification in the
north has disrupted everything, from trade routes to agriculture and
fishing.
“It has impacted food security and health, increasing the risk of
waterborne diseases. It is causing poverty by taking away farmers’
livelihoods. And it has a gender dimension, contributing to low levels
of school enrollment among girls.
“Taken together, all these factors have contributed to increased insecurity in a region already affected by violent extremism.
“I believe the rise of Boko Haram is inextricably linked with poor
water management. And the solution to conflict in the region must
include equitable ways of using water resources.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News