Africa’s Water Future Takes Centre Stage as Chad Seeks Tinubu’s Backing for Continental Initiative

Africa’s drive to secure its water future gained fresh momentum on Monday as the Republic of Chad sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for a landmark continental initiative that aims to place water security at the heart of Africa’s development agenda.

The initiative took centre stage when Chad’s Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, Tahir Hammid Nguilin, delivered a special message from President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to President Tinubu during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.

Nguilin formally invited President Tinubu to participate in the forthcoming Africa Water Summit, where African leaders are expected to launch the Water Forward Initiative—a programme being implemented in partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions.

According to the Chadian envoy, the summit is intended to elevate water security from a sectoral concern to a strategic continental priority by mobilising sustainable financing for water resources, irrigation, sanitation, agriculture and livestock development.

He explained that participating countries are expected to sign country-specific partnership agreements with the World Bank and other development partners, while African Heads of State and Government will adopt a declaration placing water security at the centre of the continent’s sustainable development agenda.

Describing Nigeria as indispensable to the initiative, Nguilin said President Tinubu’s participation would strengthen Africa’s collective efforts to confront water scarcity, enhance food security, build climate resilience and promote inclusive socio-economic growth.

Receiving the invitation on behalf of the President, Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked President Déby Itno for the gesture and described the proposed summit as timely, given the increasing importance of water security to sustainable development, environmental protection, regional stability and economic transformation.

She noted that Nigeria and Chad have continued to strengthen cooperation in addressing the environmental and security challenges confronting the Lake Chad Basin, particularly the devastating effects of the shrinking lake on agriculture, fisheries, livelihoods and regional peace.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the restoration and sustainable management of Lake Chad, describing it as a strategic priority capable of boosting irrigation, livestock production, navigation, commerce and regional integration while lifting millions of people out of poverty.

She also stressed that expanding water infrastructure and improving access to water resources are critical to tackling the root causes of insecurity by creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods for communities across the basin.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed Chad’s call for stronger continental cooperation on water governance and pledged Nigeria’s support for closer collaboration among African countries, regional institutions and development partners to deliver practical and lasting solutions to the continent’s water challenges.

She assured the Chadian delegation that the invitation would be conveyed to President Tinubu through the appropriate channels for consideration.

Both countries reaffirmed their longstanding bilateral relations and pledged to deepen cooperation in water resources management, agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, regional security, trade and economic integration through existing regional and multilateral frameworks.

The proposed Africa Water Summit is expected to bring together African leaders and international development partners to chart a coordinated response to one of the continent’s most pressing challenges ensuring water security as a foundation for sustainable development, food production, climate resilience and lasting peace.