The Republic of Chad has formally extended an invitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to participate in the upcoming Africa Water Summit. The high-level invitation, sent by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was delivered on Monday to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. The message was brought by a high-powered Chadian delegation led by the Special Envoy of the President of Chad and Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, His Excellency, Tahir Hammid Nguilin.
The summit will mark the official launch of the Water Forward Initiative in Africa, a transformative program being implemented in partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions. According to the Chadian delegation, the gathering aims to elevate water security into a strategic continental priority by mobilizing sustainable financing for vital sectors, including irrigation, sanitation, agriculture, livestock development, and water resources management. Participating nations are expected to sign country-specific partnership agreements with the World Bank, while African Heads of State will adopt a unified declaration putting water security at the center of the continent’s development agenda.
Deepening the Lake Chad Partnership
During the audience, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the invitation and conveyed warm fraternal regards to the government and people of Chad. She noted that the summit is highly timely given the critical role of water infrastructure in food production, environmental protection, climate resilience, and regional stability. The Minister recalled the ongoing bilateral and multilateral collaborations between Nigeria and Chad regarding the Lake Chad Basin, which faces severe threats from environmental degradation, shrinking water levels, and insecurity.
“Nigeria considers the restoration and sustainable management of Lake Chad as a strategic priority. The revitalization of the Basin would enhance agriculture, fisheries, navigation, commerce, irrigation, livestock production and regional integration, while contributing significantly to poverty reduction and lasting peace across the region,” the minister stated.
The Minister also emphasized that building robust water infrastructure remains indispensable to addressing the root causes of regional insecurity. By creating viable economic opportunities, such initiatives will improve the livelihoods of millions of people who depend directly on the Lake Chad Basin.
Reaffirming Bilateral Commitment
The Special Envoy underscored Nigeria’s strategic importance to the success of the upcoming summit, stressing that the active participation of President Tinubu would significantly strengthen continental efforts to address Africa’s pressing water challenges and promote inclusive socio-economic development. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed Chad’s proposal for stronger continental cooperation on water governance and assured the delegation that the invitation would be promptly conveyed to President Tinubu for his consideration.
Both Nigeria and Chad reaffirmed their longstanding, cordial relations, which are deeply rooted in a shared history, geographical proximity, and common security interests. The two nations reiterated their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, regional security, trade, and economic integration through frameworks like the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the African Union, and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
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