Leading the Way! Since 1964

The Lake Chad is the fourth largest lake in Africa (by area) after Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyassa. The area of Lake Chad, one of the largest bodies of freshwater in Africa, has shrunk by more than 90% over the past 58 years. When LCBC was established in 1964, the lake extended over more than 25,000km². Lake Chad is the relic of an ancient Quaternary Sea, at an altitude of 280m and a depth that does not exceed 4 meters today (2012). It is crowded with islands and undergoes particularly intense evaporation.

Since the two disastrous droughts of 1972-1973 and 1982-1984, rainfall has dropped from an average of 320mm to 210mm. Similarly, the two large rivers which supply the Lake have lost their capacity: the Chari-Logone which provides 90% of its waters, like the Kamadougou-Yobe, which with the remaining 10%. Its highest level is usually reached between December – January, and its lowest in June-July. In 2008, its dimensions were 30km by 40km at the mouth of the Chari – Logone river for an area of 2,500km². Lake Chad covers less than 10% of the area it occupied in the 1960s.

Important Dates/Stages

22 May 1964

Establishment of LCBC with four-member states

1994

Adoption of the Master Plan

1990

Restructuring of LCBC. Major events:

– significant streamlining of the organizational chart,

– project implementation was handed over to member states.

1996

Official admission of the Central African Republic (CAR) as 5th member state

2000

Adoption of the Document “The Challenges of the Lake Chad Basin, Vision 2025”

2008

Official membership of Libya as 6th member state

2008

Official membership of Libya as 6th member state

2008 - 2009

Institutional Assessment of LCBC. Major events:

– significant strengthening of the organizational chart,

– management staff were now recruited through an international call for candidates

2012

Adoption of the Lake Chad Basin Water Charter

Founding Fathers

The LCBC was created on May 22, 1964 by the Fort-Lamy Convention (now N’Djamena) by Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad. The Founding Fathers of the Lake Chad Basin Commission

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Ahmadou Ahidjo

(Cameroon) 24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989

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Hamani Diori

(Niger) 6 June 1916 - 23 April 1989

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Ngarta Tombalbaye

(Chad) 15 June 1918 – 13 April 1973

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Abubakar Tafa Balewa

(Nigeria) 1912-1966

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Former Executive Secretaries

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Mr. Omotayo Ogunsulire

(1965 – 1968)

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Mr. Muhammadou Aliyu Carpenter

(1968 – 1972)

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Mr. Benson Owa Tonwe

(1972 -1976)

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Chef Festus Olufemi Olufolabi

(1976 -1983)

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Mr. Mustafa Sam

(1983 -1988)

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Mr. Abubakar Bobboi Jauro

(1988 -2000)

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Engr. Muhammad Sani Adamu

(2000 - 2008)

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Dr Abdullahi Umar Gandudje

(2009 – 2011)

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Engr. Sanusi Imran Abdullahi

(2011 - 2018)

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Former Deputy Executive Secretaries

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Mr. Maurice Edjenguele

(1977 - 1985)

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Mr. Haman Djoda

(1988 - 1993)

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Mr. Tam Lambert

(1996 – 2008)

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Founding Fathers

Founding Fathers

The LCBC was created on May 22, 1964 by the Fort-Lamy Convention (now N’Djamena) by Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad. The Founding Fathers of the Lake Chad Basin Commission

null

Ahmadou Ahidjo

(Cameroon) 24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989

Read Biography

null

Hamani Diori

(Niger) 6 June 1916 - 23 April 1989

Read Biography

null

Ngarta Tombalbaye

(Chad) 15 June 1918 – 13 April 1973

Read Biography

null

Abubakar Tafa Balewa

(Nigeria) 1912-1966

Read Biography

Former Executive Secretaries

Former Executive Secretaries

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Mr. Omotayo Ogunsulire

(1965 – 1968)

Read Biography

null

Mr. Muhammadou Aliyu Carpenter

(1968 – 1972)

Read Biography

null

Mr. Benson Owa Tonwe

(1972 -1976)

Read Biography

null

Chef Festus Olufemi Olufolabi

(1976 -1983)

Read Biography

null

Mr. Mustafa Sam

(1983 -1988)

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null

Mr. Abubakar Bobboi Jauro

(1988 -2000)

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null

Engr. Muhammad Sani Adamu

(2000 - 2008)

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null

Dr Abdullahi Umar Gandudje

(2009 – 2011)

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null

Engr. Sanusi Imran Abdullahi

(2011 - 2018)

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Former Deputy Executive Secretaries

Former Deputy Executive Secretaries

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Mr. Maurice Edjenguele

(1977 - 1985)

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null

Mr. Haman Djoda

(1988 - 1993)

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null

Mr. Tam Lambert

(1996 – 2008)

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