The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged that the Nigerian Navy, working in close coordination with other security agencies, will secure Lake Chad and its vast network of surrounding waterways to allow fishing, farming and other economic activities to resume across the insurgency-hit northeast.
Vice Admiral Abbas made the commitment in Maiduguri during a visit to naval formations operating within the Lake Chad Basin, a region that cuts across Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
The visit was part of an ongoing assessment of the operational needs of troops deployed to one of the most volatile theatres of Nigeria’s long-running counter-insurgency campaign.
According to the naval chief, sustained joint operations involving the armed forces, other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Task Force are aimed at denying Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, access to the Lake and its numerous waterways.
He said this strategy is critical not only to defeating the terrorists but also to restoring daily life for communities whose survival depends on the Lake.
He noted that dozens of waterways linked to Lake Chad serve communities across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, adding that improved security would enable displaced fishermen and farmers to return to their livelihoods after years of forced abandonment.
For many residents, insecurity on the Lake has meant hunger, displacement and the collapse of local economies that once thrived on fishing, farming and cross-border trade.
Lake Chad was historically one of Africa’s richest inland fisheries and a lifeline for millions of people across the four countries it borders.
Over the past decade, however, the Lake and its islands have become a haven for insurgents, who exploited the difficult terrain and porous borders to launch attacks, smuggle weapons and impose illegal taxes on local populations.
Vice Admiral Abbas stressed that the Navy’s mission goes beyond military dominance, saying the ultimate goal is to revive economic activity and improve living conditions for communities devastated by years of violence.
He described security and development as inseparable, arguing that peace on the Lake would translate directly into food security and economic recovery across the northeast.
During his visit, the naval chief inspected the ongoing construction of the Maiduguri Naval Base, which is expected to significantly strengthen the Navy’s operational reach in the region. The base will serve as a strategic hub for surveillance, rapid response and coordination of joint operations around Lake Chad.
He also visited the Baga Naval Base, reaffirming the military’s determination to restore peace and stability to the area.
Vice Admiral Abbas held discussions with Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on the broader security situation and the importance of civil-military cooperation in rebuilding communities affected by the insurgency.