The long term nature of the project demands that the participating states are relatively stable in political and economic terms. Nigeria, Cameroon and Libya account for 78% of member contributions to the commission. Libya is currently seen as a failed state, so the focus is on Nigeria to offer political direction for the project.
Nigeria mirrors the challenges

Nigeria plays a powerful role as a regional leader and a major financial member of the Lake Chad Basin. Nigeria also pays 40% of the commission’s membership contributions of €6,275,906.90 (2013 budget).

Three political issues in Nigeria could affect the project.

The first is that President Muhammadu Buhari has had an important influence on its progress. Since he assumed office in May 2015, four milestones have been reached:

• Nigeria ratified the Water Charter, five years after it was signed.

• Nigeria signed the Charter for the Lake Chad Basin into law.

• PowerChina and the Commission signed the memorandum of understanding.

• PowerChina and Italian firm Bonfica Spa signed a deal to conduct the feasibility study and build the Transaqua project.

If Buhari’s influence wanes, the project could lose momentum.

The second political issue is that Nigerians will go to the polls again in 2019. Buhari’s health challenges, combined with the country’s economic and political challenges, have reduced his approval ratings from 67% when he was elected to 44% in 2016.

The re-organisation and re-emergence of the opposition People’s Democratic Party gives voters a strong alternative, especially in parts of the country without an alternative political party that can compete with their political structure and finances.

That party, which was in power for 16 years, might not be able to meet the financial or security commitments to the water project because of their past history in government.

The third factor relates to institutional politics. The executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Abdullahi Sanusi Imran, has stated that the Transaqua idea “is much more appropriate for the situation of the Lake Chad than all other alternative solutions.” But an informal conversation with a senior Nigerian government official in the course of research fieldwork expressed concern about the choice of the Transaqua idea over other alternatives.

jpphilips:


With Boko haram operating in the Lake chad basin, the project is highly unlikely. One thing I have learnt from this Buhari's presidency is that the north already has a list of factors affecting them before thinking of presidency. It is not just about the appointments but a sincerity of purpose to give the people what they deserve.
Down south, despite giving us all the juicy offices, we lost more than we gained. It seems like only northerners have political maturity in this country, the rest are f00ling around.

Seems like you all have same opinion about Boko Haram. Like I said Boko Haram most isolated in Nigeria. The I've never heard then as far out as Congo. Chad sometimes but they are usually in Cameroon and Niger. Yeah north plays good politics. Example or one north. There's nothing stopping every southern state from having meeting. Next the northern states usually have different opinions so they can be convinced to vote differently.

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