Nigerian, Libyan leaders discuss stability in Sahel Africa

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh Wednesday discussed ways to bring stability in Sahel Africa and Lake Chad region, which are wrecked by decades of political instability and terror attacks.

Buhari, who received the Libyan leader at the presidential villa in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, said instability in Libya directly affected peace in Nigeria, according to an official statement.

“Republics of Chad and Niger have extensive borders with Libya, and they are our immediate neighbors. Whatever affects them affects us. The stability or instability of Libya will directly affect us,” Buhari said.

He maintained the two African countries must collaborate to strengthen stability in the Lake Chad region and Sahel.

“Unless a country or institution is secured, there’s no way you can efficiently manage it,” he stressed.

On Tuesday, the Libyan leader attended a summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission held in Abuja.

The Lake Chad Basin Commission – established by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria in 1964 – is charged with regulating the use of the waters of the lake and the basin for the development of livestock, crop, fishery, and water resources.

There are eight member countries — Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Algeria, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Sudan — chosen for their proximity to Lake Chad.