Lake Chad faces 90% shrinkage; governments pledge $50 billion water diversion plan

Historical accounts from the early 19th century described Lake Chad as one of Africa’s largest inland lakes, but today it has contracted to about 10% of its former 25,000-square-kilometre area. The shrinkage jeopardizes water access and the livelihoods of roughly 50 million people across Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, as climate-driven droughts and expanding irrigation strain the dwindling resource. In response, the Lake Chad Basin Commission and member states have unveiled a $50 billion Trans Aqua initiative to pipe water from tributaries of the Congo River into the lake, a concept first proposed by Italian firm Bonifica Spa in 1982.

While the plan promises to replenish water levels, generate power and boost agriculture, it remains a proposal pending resolution of financial, environmental and diplomatic hurdles. Parallel efforts include a $10 million PARFEBALT technical assistance program and multiple World Bank projects that have already supported millions through improved transport, climate-resilient farming and market access. Displacement of more than 77,500 people between January and July 2026 highlights the growing humanitarian pressure, making swift action critical for regional stability.