The 50th Session of the Lake Chad Basin Commission was held in Niamey, Republic of Niger, from 27th to 28th February 2003, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Adamou NAMATA, Minister of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Commission.
Present were :
- H.E. SEINI KATCHALLA, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Programming and Regional Development, 1st Commissioner of Cameroon to LCBC;
- H.E. YENE OSSOMBA VICTOR, Governor of the Far-North Province, 2nd Commissioner of Cameroon to LCBC.
- H.E. Adamou NAMATA, Minister of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control
- Mr. OUMAROU YAKOUBA, Senior Divisional Officer, Diffa, 2nd Commissioner of Niger to LCBC.
- Chief L.C. Ibe Permanent Secretary (FMWR)
- M.B. Saleh, mni, Director (REI)
- H.E. MAHAMAT ALLAHOU TAHER, Minister of Animal Husbandry, 2nd Commissioner of Chad to LCBC
- H.E.. Jean-Michel MANDABA, Minister-Delegate in charge of Water, Forests, Hunting and Environment ; 1st Commissioner of CAR to LCBC,
- H.E. Daniel Emery DEDE, Minister-Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Water, Forests, Hunting and Fisheries.
On this occasion, the Commissioners considered the reports of the Executive Secretary, Board of External Auditors, Financial Controller and the reports of technical sub-committees for activity programmes of various departments. They also took measures designed to give an impetus to all sectors of activities of the Commission.
On the basis of these reports, the Commissioners adopted the activity programme of the Executive Secretariat for the year 2003 and approved a relevant budget of 957, 709, 484 CFAF.
The Commissioners expressed satisfaction with the good management of the activities of the Executive Secretariat and reiterated their commitment to pay their contributions on a regular basis. They also made a commitment to clear their arrears of contributions within the shortest possible time.
The Commissioners also considered the report of the Ad hoc Committee of National Experts which was given a mandate to restructure the Executive Secretariat and revise the staff rules and financial regulations. They gave new instructions for the continuation of this exercise.
They expressed concern about the shrinking Lake Chad and its disastrous consequences to the highly degraded environment. This degradation which, is due to drought and desertification, has been caused by global warming and climate change. According to projections, the Lake Chad Basin will also be affected by the global impact of the greenhouse effect.
The Commissioners, indeed, expressed their gratitude to the World Bank, GEF, UNDP, ADB, IDB and UNESCO, for financing ongoing LCBC projects. They urged the international community, United Nations agencies and donors to join their efforts and assist LCBC in its mission to save Lake Chad, restore its ecosystem and promote the socio-economic development of the people living in the Lake Chad basin.
They made an urgent appeal to the RAMSAR Bureau and WWF to speed up their installation process at the LCBC Headquarters in order to facilitate the implementation of the Lake Chad programme.
As concerns the important project on Water Transfer from Oubangui to Lake Chad, the Commissioners also expressed their satisfaction with the progress that has been made so far in this domain. They presented their heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Ange-Felix PATASSE, President of the Central African Republic, for having received the formal non-objection of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville and the informal assurances by the Democratic Republic of Congo which they promise to formalize very soon. This therefore gives the impetus to speeding up the process leading to the commencement of feasibility studies.
As regards the Third World Water Forum slated for Kyoto, Japan, the Commissioners underscored the importance of that forum during which the International Community will be made aware of the alarming degradation of the basin’s environment. Thus, they decided to forge ahead with the campaign to save Lake Chad. They were also satisfied with the efforts deployed by the Executive Secretariat to prepare for this forum and expressed their resolute determination to participate.
Finally, the Commissioners requested Mr. Adamou NAMATA, Current Chairman of the Commission and Minister of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control, to transmit to His Excellency Mamadou TANDJA, President of the Republic of Niger and to the people of Niger, their profound gratitude for the cordial welcome and hospitality accorded to all the participants at this session and for the facilities placed at their disposal.
The next session will be held in Nigeria at a date to be announced through diplomatic channels.
Done at Niamey (Niger) on 28th February 2003, in English and French, the two texts being considered authentic.
H.E. SEINI KATCHALLA,
H.E. Adamou NAMATA,
H.E. Chief L.C. Ibe,
H.E. MAHAMAT ALLAHOU TAHER