Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the reconstruction of some key roads in the Lake Chad Basin.

This is contained, in a statement by Buni’s Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu on Wednesday.

Mr Buni, who doubles as Chairman, Lake Chad Governors Forum, was quoted as saying this in Ndjamena, Chad, while chairing his first meeting with officials of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

The governor said that the roads, including Dikwa–Ngala and Bama–Banki, would be reconstructed under the Dangote Tax Credit Scheme.

He said that the forum was focused on expanding reintegration programmes, and advocating for the reinstatement of donor support for stabilization programmes, particularly in Niger Republic.

“ These are not just national concerns, they are regional imperatives,” Buni said.

The governor recalled the outcome of the fifth meeting of the Forum in Maiduguri, which was built on the pillars of security, cooperation, humanitarian response, sustainable development, and climate resilience.

“Among our major resolutions, were the need to enhance the operational capacity of the Multi National Joint Task Force, deepen cross-border infrastructure development, mobilize finance through the Special Multi-Partner Delivery Fund and the Nexus Funding Facility.

“ The forum reaffirmed its commitment to tackling emerging threats such as youth radicalization, illicit arms trade, and ecological degradation.

“ We welcomed the validation of the Regional Strategy for Stabilization Recovery and Resilience and the initiation of transformative projects such as the Support Project for the Restoration of the Ecological and Economic Functions of the Lake Chad,” he said.

Buni expressed his commitment to work closely with the commission and the Federal Government toward achieving the ideals of the commission and the region.

“ As we deepen collaboration with Lake Chad Basin Commission, I urge the Commission to continue playing its central coordination role, especially in harmonizing our investment efforts and strengthening mechanisms for joint monitoring and accountability.

“Finally, as the rainy season sets in, the need for collaborative efforts to strengthen security and empower our people with agricultural inputs to facilitate agricultural production for food sufficiency and security cannot over emphasized.

“Therefore, we should explore the opportunities at our disposal to improve agricultural production and development among the member states to fast track economic growth,” the governor said.
NAN