African Gas Pipeline, Lake Chad Recharge Top Shettima, WEF President’s Talk

Nigeria’s government has sought collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to boost economic growth and tackle key challenges facing Africa. Vice President Kashim Shettima outlined two major initiatives during a bilateral meeting with WEF President, Mr. Børge Brende, at the ongoing annual WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The first initiative is the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), which aims to connect Nigeria with Morocco and other African nations. This ambitious project will transport natural gas from Nigeria to North Africa and Europe, helping to address energy security concerns in the region, especially in the face of geopolitical tensions in Europe and the growing demand for energy driven by artificial intelligence and data storage needs.

Shettima emphasized that many West African countries, especially littoral states that have discovered gas reserves, are eager to contribute to this pipeline system, making it a potential win-win for the region. “We want to use the WEF platform to develop this gas project and take advantage of the growing energy needs,” he said.

Nigeria, Shettima explained, is a “gas nation,” and the country is working to maximize the opportunities in gas production to fuel economic growth and create wealth for its young and growing population.

The second initiative discussed was the recharging of Lake Chad, which has significantly shrunk over the years, from 25,000 square kilometers to just 2,000 square kilometers. Shettima highlighted the urgent need to restore the lake, noting its critical role in addressing food security and combating terrorism in the Sahel. He also spoke about the potential for generating clean energy and hydropower from the lake’s restoration.

By recharging Lake Chad through water from the Congo River basin, Nigeria aims to create a canal system that would transform agriculture in the region and offer a long-term solution to the food security crisis.

Vice President Shettima also touched on the reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the alignment of exchange rates. These efforts, he said, are already putting Nigeria on the path to sustained economic growth.

He invited the WEF President to visit Nigeria and meet with President Tinubu, and also offered to host the WEF Africa event in Nigeria in the future. Shettima underscored the importance of collaboration with the WEF, particularly given Nigeria’s status as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

By 2050, Nigeria is expected to become the third most populous country in the world, surpassing the United States, making such collaborations crucial for the future of the continent.