President Muhammadu Buhari Today in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, commended the decision of OIC to support the Inter-Basin Water Transfer project, aimed at recharging the Lake Chad.
President Buhari noted that the shrinking of Lake Chad to about 10 percent of its original size had adversely affected over 30 million livelihoods in the sub-region.
This has further led to severe economic deprivation, fuelled illegal migration to Europe, the displacement of communities and radicalization of youth, forcing them to join the Boko Haram terrorist group.
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President Buhari, who acknowledged the intervention of the OIC in the field of science, technology and innovation, poverty alleviation as well as women and youth empowerment, also stressed the significance of the OIC Science and Technology Agenda 2026.
According to the President, science, technology and innovation as well as information and communication technologies are crucial to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and OIC 2025 Programme of Action.
He, therefore, reiterated the determination and commitment of Nigeria to supporting collaborative research programmes on science and technology.