Shrinking Lake Chad forced many into crime — Buhari

President Buhari has blamed the shrinking Lake Chad as the reason why many Nigerians went into crime. 

The Nigerian leader who spoke while receiving a Letter of Credence of the High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria Mrs Claire Ireland, said the shrinking Lake Chad left many jobless, leaving them with little or no options for survival except crime.

Buhari in a statement released by his media aide Garba Shehu, stated that the effect of climate change on Lake Chad has created more economic challenges. According to him, climate change was “steadily” taking a toll on income of families as farm lands got narrowed with desert encroachments, while the vagaries of the weather posed greater risks for the future.

The President also said that Nigeria is preparing for more challenges from desert encroachment, while pointing out that growth in population has created a situation where over 200 people are struggling over a family land. 

The statement partly read "President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said climate change is steadily taking a toll on income of families as farm lands get narrowed with desert encroachments, while the vagaries of the weather pose greater risks for the future.

Receiving Letter of Credence of the High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria, Mrs Claire Ireland, President Buhari said the global attention on taming the effects of climate change was important, noting that population had been on the increase in Nigeria, and lands for investment and farming have turned more competitive.

“Before now 10 to 15 members of a family could own a land, but the desert encroachment and growth in population has created a situation where you can have 200 people struggling over a family land,’’ he said.

The President said the effect of climate change on Lake Chad had created more economic challenges, with the shrinking lake rendering many jobless, and leaving them with little or no options for survival, except crime.

In her remarks, the High Commissioner said Australia had maintained consistent economic growth for 29 years, scoring a record of development indicators that many countries had not been able to attain.

Mrs Ireland said the growth had been largely driven by investments and diversification in the mining sector, assuring the President that stronger partnerships will be explored for Nigeria’s potentials in minerals, education and agriculture."

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