The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, has advocated for a continued collaboration with the Republic of Cameroon to enrich the ecosystems of the Mandara Plateau Mosaic in Nigeria.
Professor Utsev made assertioned during the unveiling of the 3-day National Workshop for the Implementation of the Integrated Management Platform for the Mandara Mountains on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev emphasized that the central aim of the workshop is to establish the Mandara Plateau Mosaic Transboundary Ecosystem Platform in Nigeria, which will serve as a pivotal entity for the management and preservation of the distinctive ecological assets of the Mandara Plateau.
“The establishment of this platform will ensure a structured and coordinated approach to overseeing this invaluable ecosystem and will facilitate consultations among various stakeholders to designate their representatives in the national management platform. This includes engagement with governmental bodies, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions,” Prof. Utsev elucidated.
Addressing the participants, the Minister urged them to contribute their expertise, insights, and zeal to the discussions, which aim to tackle current challenges and capitalize on opportunities for the sustainable development and conservation of the Mandara Plateau ecosystem.
During the session, Mr. Alomosso, the Regional Coordinator of NB-ITTAS, underscored that the transboundary platform will convene all stakeholders to deliberate and provide solutions for the Mandara Plateau ecosystem.
Also addressing the gathering, the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority, represented by Belibi Tsala, observed that transboundary cooperation is an integral component of the poverty alleviation strategy and is in alignment with the attainment of sustainable development objectives. He stressed that it will enhance knowledge-based management, governance, and conservation of the resources of the Niger Basin.
The attendees comprised the Executive Secretary of the NBA, the Regional Coordinator of the NB-ITTAS Project, the National Secretary of the National Coordinating Unit of Users (RCU) of the Niger Basin Natural Resources, local government chairpersons, representatives of affected communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
