Osinbajo Seeks Greater Cooperation From Lake Chad Countries Against Boko Haram

CHANNELS TV

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged countries of the Lake Chad Basin for greater cooperation for the protection of people displaced by the boko- haram insurgency in the region.

Speaking at a Regional Protection Dialogue in Abuja, United Nations Humanitarian agencies said the challenges in the Lake Chad Basin have gone beyond the need for food and shelter to include long term displacement concerns and fast demographics growth.

Notwithstanding the numerous complex protection challenges in the region, Vice President Osinbajo maintains that the Lake Chad Basin governments cannot afford to fail.

The United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer said state governments must be supported to prevent future implosion arising from displacements alongside current immediate needs.

The regional meeting, which brought together Heads of Government and security of Lake Chad Basin countries and donor countries, international and humanitarian organisations, aims to review common concerns about the protection of populations affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the region, particularly refugees and the internally displaced.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), mainly involved in humanitarian intervention in the region, is weary of the new humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad Basin, as victory mounts over the insurgency.

The UNCHR Assistant Commissioner For Protection, Mr Volker Turk stresses the need to pay attention to some issues, such as the fast demographic growth in cities harboring displaced persons and possible implosions that may arise from the long term challenge of displacements.