Lake Chad Drying Up: Minister Warns of Global Threat

Balarab Abba Lawal, the Minister of Environment, warned during the 2026 annual retreat in Maiduguri that the continued drying up of Lake Chad poses a major environmental threat with consequences extending beyond environmental concerns to livelihood, food security, and displacement. He emphasized the need for stronger international collaboration to restore Lake Chad and mitigate its impacts.

Lawal described the shrinking of the lake as a major catastrophe and called for coordinated action among governments, development partners, and stakeholders. The retreat focused on improving service delivery and strengthening environmental governance, including stricter enforcement of regulations against violators.

Prof. Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, highlighted the link between environmental degradation and poverty, stressing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without a stable ecosystem. He called for stiffer penalties against illegal tree felling and urged regional collaboration to curb deforestation across the Lake Chad Basin.