As a side event of his participation in the meeting of the Ministers of Mines, Energy and Petroleum of the Sahel States Alliance (AES), Chad and Togo in Niamey, Mr. Kanabé Marcelin PASSALE, the Honourable Minister of Water and Energy of the Republic of Chad, visited the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) on Thursday 11th December, 2025. He was accompanied by His Excellency the Ambassador of Chad to the Republic of Niger, which reflects the strategic importance his country attaches to both the Institution and the integrated management of shared natural resources for a sustainable socio-economic development in the Niger Basin.
The visit is a follow-up to the 44th Ordinary Session of the NBA Council of Ministers held on 5th December, 2025 in Ouagadougou, a Session which was attended by the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad. In a friendly atmosphere, the Minister of Water and Energy of Chad acknowledged the quality of the work done by the Executive Secretary, while praising his leadership and efforts for remobilising both the member countries’ Authorities and the NBA partners and other stakeholders. He then urged all Directors, Experts and support staff to support the Executive Secretary in successfully fulfilling his mandate, which is also theirs, in the service of the Niger Basin’s nine member countries and populations.
Message of unwavering strategic support to NBA by the Government of Chad
The Minister of Water and Energy of Chad reaffirmed the strategic support of the Chadian Government to the Executive Secretary and to NBA as a whole, emphasising the importance of institutional stability and the collective commitment of member countries to the success of the Authority’s actions. To this end, he stated that Chad remains strongly committed, alongside the other member countries, to accompanying and supporting efforts for making the NBA high performing and empowered to carry out large essential, multi-purpose, common and/or common interest transformative investments related to water for the profit of the Niger Basin member countries.
Deep gratitude from the Executive Secretary
Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, the NBA Executive Secretary, took the opportunity to once again express his deep gratitude to the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad for his active participation, as well as his contributions and guidance in finalising and adopting the important Resolutions resulting from the proceedings of the 44th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of 5th December, 2025 in Ouagadougou. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad who, despite his busy schedule, was able to make a visit to the “NBA house” a priority, to galvanise the Executive Secretariat’ staff and to show them his close strategic support.
The Executive Secretary emphasised that the visit of the Supervising Minister, together with His Excellency the Ambassador in Niamey, is a token of Chad’s deep commitment to the Institution and to the success of the NBA revitalisation process underway.
Reaffirmation of Chad’s commitment to the NBA
The Minister gave assurances that his country intends to honour all its commitments to the NBA in the very near future. He reaffirmed Chad’s willingness to actively contribute to all the initiatives currently being undertaken by the Executive Secretary.
Visit to the construction site of the new NBA Headquarters in Niamey
Following the visit, the Chadian delegation and the Executive Secretary, accompanied by the Directors and some Experts, visited the site where the foundation stone for the construction of the new NBA Headquarters was laid on 14th December, 2014.
This symbolic visit highlighted the importance of this major project for the Institution’s influence and smooth running. The Supervising Authority urged to launch construction efforts as from the first quarter of 2026 in order to provide the NBA with a modern Headquarters commensurate with the scope of its missions.
A symbol of regional solidarity
By this strategic visit, following that of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers - the NBA Supervising Minister in Burkina Faso – from 28th to 31st August, 2025, Chad is sending a strong political signal for enhanced regional cooperation in the Niger Basin, in a spirit of solidarity and commitment, in line with the member countries’ Shared Vision and guidance, for sustainably improving the livelihoods of the180 million inhabitants and the state of ecosystems in the Basin.
