The Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) was established by the research institute (Establishment Act) order 1975. However, the institute’s actual physical existence and activities commenced in 1976 with the location of its headquarters at kilometer 5 along Gamboru/Ngala road, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
At its inception, the institute was multi-disciplinary with the following research mandates:

1. Hydrological behaviour and characteristics of the Lake Chad and limnology (study of aquatic plant) of the associated surface and ground waters;
2. The abundance, distribution and other biological characteristics of species of fish and other aquatic form of life in the lake Chad and practical methods of their national exploration;
3. The behaviour and characteristics of the wild fauna and flora associated with the lake and their conservation;
4. The ecology and methods of control of crop pests and disease of economic importance;
5. The improvement of methods of control of dry and wet season farming and livestock husbandry and in-service environmental conditions around the lake;
6. The improvement of the cultivation of wheat barley and other crops by irrigation around the lake and
7. The socio-economic and public health implications of the introduction of large-scale irrigation schemes and improved methods of animal husbandry and fishing on the rural population around the lake; and any other matters related to the lake Chad.

Following the re-appraisal of the mandates and functions of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARIS) in 1987, it became a solely crop base Research institute. At its inception, the institute established stations at Baga, Mallam-Fatori, and Ngala in Borno State. As its activities expanded, the institute established experimental sites at Biu, Damboa and New Marte in Borno State; Dadinkowa in Gombe state; Gembu in Taraba state; Uba in Adamawa State and Gashua in Yobe state.