Buhari leaves for London, seeks support to revamp Lake Chad

Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday afternoon, left Abuja for London to see his doctors.

President Buhari who left at 3:20pm, was seen off by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina among other presidential aides.

Before he left for London, the President received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador-designate of the Netherlands to Nigeria, the High Commissioner-designate of the Republic of Botswana to Nigeria and the Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Guinea Bissau to Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Adesina, he reiterated the need for sustained financial, technical and capacity building support from the international community to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in the country.

He told the Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Robert Jan Petri, at the Letter of Credence ceremony that Nigeria would continue to vigorously pursue the replenishment of the Lake Chad Basin, which has dried up to 10 percent of its original size.

“With the population growth in Nigeria and the drying up of the Lake Chad, we have to move faster and adapt to the impacts of climate change through technological solutions,” he said.

The President told Petri that following Nigeria’s active participation in UN-organized Climate Change conferences in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Nigerian government successfully hosted a high-level international conference on Lake Chad in February 2018.

He noted that the high-level conference provided an opportunity to push further options to restore the Lake Chad, including the inter-basin water transfer project from Ubangi River in Central Africa to the Lake.

On agriculture, the President welcomed the interest by some Nigerian doctoral students studying in the Netherlands on developing the sector through research and innovation, particularly the livestock sector.

In separate remarks, while receiving the Letter of Credence from the High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana, Pule Mphothwe, Buhari commended the Southern African country for its consistent support to Nigeria in the international fora.

Recounting Nigeria’s leadership role in the liberation of African countries from colonial domination, Buhari said: “It is a national duty to support our African brothers in their time of need.”

The President who also received Letter of Credence from Houssam Diab, Ambassador of Lebanon to Nigeria, commended Lebanon for successful parliamentary elections, commitment to stability and security in the Middle East, as well as assistance to Syrian refugees.

In their separate remarks, the Ambassadors while highlighting the existing and cordial relations between Nigeria and their countries, called for increased trade and economic cooperation.

The Dutch Ambassador said, “we are in the process of intensifying our cooperation, particularly on agriculture where we can offer our expertise, being the second largest exporter of food after the United States.”

Notably, the Botswana High Commissioner told President Buhari that several companies from his country had indicated interest to invest in Nigeria’s mining, agriculture, sports and creative arts sectors.

“Sequel to the visit to my country (Botswana) by your predecessor in 2011, there is a great desire for my President to visit Nigeria,’” Mphothwe said.