Climate change fueling insecurity – Fintiri
By Ahmed Abba
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has said the shrinking of Lake Chad and the attendant effects of climate change are major factors fueling insecurity in the region.
Fintiri stated this in his address at the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum (LCBGF) held in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
He highlighted the alarming rate at which the lake is shrinking, citing a United Nations Environment Programme review which indicated a 90 per cent reduction in its size over the past 60 years.
He linked this drastic decline to factors such as irrigation, dam construction, and population growth, which have led to dwindling fish stocks, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased competition for scarce water resources.
The governor emphasised the connection between environmental degradation and climate change, noting that they are aggravating factors for conflict and terrorism.
He argued that the resulting poverty, depression, and resentment make individuals more susceptible to recruitment by armed groups.
“Studies have indeed disclosed that there’s a positive correlation between the changing physical environment of Lake Chad and the intensity of violent extremism in the surrounding area over the years,” Fintiri stated.
He lamented the devastating impact of insurgency in the region, including the massive displacement of people, creating millions of internally displaced persons and refugees.
Fintiri further noted that the conflict has destabilised state institutions, eroded social cohesion and trust between communities and authorities, and disrupted economic activities like trade, agriculture, fishing, and border commerce.
He stressed the urgent need for global recognition of the dire situation in the Lake Chad Basin, asserting that “there will be no global peace without the right answers to the Lake Chad Basin.”
The governor commended the efforts of state and non-state actors who are working to bring these critical issues to the forefront of the global agenda.
He reiterated the commitment of the LCBGF to finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the region.
