Buhari tasks Maiduguri varsity to sustain efforts in oil search
President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked the University of Maiduguri, Borno state to show interest in relevant research in Nigeria’s search for oil in the Chad basin. He said regardless of the declines in revenues, efforts in prospecting for oil especially in the Chad must be sustained. A report from the National University Commission (NUC) […]
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President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked the University of Maiduguri, Borno state to show interest in relevant research in Nigeria’s search for oil in the Chad basin.
He said regardless of the declines in revenues, efforts in prospecting for oil especially in the Chad must be sustained.
A report from the National University Commission (NUC) disclosed that the president made the remark recently at the institution’s convocation ceremony.
The president also tasked the institution on the need to intensify research into positive ways of dealing with the consequences of shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin and its associated aquifers.
Buhari who was represented by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie said although part of the Lake Chad Basin was strategically located in Borno State, its current state of decline was of utmost concern to member countries of Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
He noted that statistics and satellite imaging had shown that the lake has receded to less than 20 per cent of its original size, saying since 1963, the surface area of Lake Chad has decreased from approximately 25, 000 to 1, 500 square kilometers.
He identified desertification, wrong irrigation, damning practices and climate change as mostly blamed for the problem.
Many people, according to him were dependent on the disappearing waters and forest resources and that the age old fishing tradition of the surrounding regions had all but disappeared thus food supply, livelihoods and indeed the security of millions of people are threatened.
He maintained that research had shown clear correlations between poor nutrition, poverty, ill health and insecurity of lives and poverty were due in part to high competition for scarce resources.
“Nigeria could not afford more unrest especially in the face of insurgency and other threats to lives and economy,” he said.
While urging the varsity to take advantage of its geographical location to build cooperation with Nigeria’s neighbours and advancing in practical terms true brotherhood, he commended the varsity on sustaining the momentum during the very trying period.