Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General has attributed the Boko Haram terrorism in Northeast Nigeria mostly to the drying up of the once thriving Lake Chad, which provided millions with livelihood. She made this remark in Stockholm at the opening plenary of 2018 World Water Week themed: ‘Water, Ecosystems and Human Development, at the Heart of the Global Agendas’. Ms. Mohammed recounted her experience as Minister of Environment of Nigeria and Chair of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council she said, she saw first-hand the disastrous human consequences of badly-managed water resources and ecosystems. She noted the importance of protecting the environment and conserving resources for sustainable development. She said, “I was raised in North-eastern Nigeria, where lack of access to clean water and sanitation is a major challenge. Lake Chad was once the chief source of economic activity for this region, providing food and economic opportunities to nearly 30 million people. Today, the lake has shrunk by 90%. Some predict it could disappear entirely by the end of this century. This drying of the lake and the advance of desertification in the north has disrupted everything, from trade routes to agriculture and fishing.” She said, “It has impacted food security and health, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. It is causing poverty by taking away farmers’ livelihoods. And it has a gender dimension, contributing to low levels of school enrolment among girls. Taken together, all these factors have contributed to increased insecurity in a region already affected by violent extremism. I believe the rise of Boko Haram is inextricably linked with poor water management. And the solution to conflict in the region must include equitable ways of using water resources.” According to her, Lake Chad is just one example of the vital links between water management and all the Sustainable Development Goals. She said around the world, growing demands for water, coupled with poor water governance, had increased water stress and were having a broad and negative impact on economies and societies. There is good news. There is sufficient fresh water in
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