President Muhammadu Buhari has
assured that his administration will
offset the $100 million pledged by
Nigeria towards the Multi-National Joint
Task Force’s (MNJTF) effort to defeat
Boko Haram.
He also opposed the suggested six
months duration for the change of the
command and control structure of the
MNJTF, saying it will hamper the
success recorded thus far.
The President also urged Nigeria’s
neighbours to allow her control the
MNJTF while fighting the insurgents.
Buhari stated these at the Extra-
Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State
and Government of the Lake Chad Basin
Commission and Benin in Abuja.
Other Heads of State at the meeting
which began at about 10:50 a.m, were
Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic,
Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, and Boni Yayi,
Benin Republic.
Camerounian President was represented
by his Minister of Defence.
Speaking on the pledge, Buhari said:
“Permit me, at this juncture, to recall
that Nigeria has already pledged the
sum of $100 million for the smooth
take-off of the MNJTF. I hereby reassure
you that my government will keep faith
with this promise.”
Harping on the need to strengthen
cross-border patrol and intelligence
sharing, the President urged that efforts
be targeted at limiting the insurgents’
capacity to access funds and weapons.
Speaking against six months duration
for change of the command and control
structure of the MNJTF, he said, “while I
agree that this is a joint operation with
shared responsibilities, I am, however, of
the opinion that military operations that
are subjected to a rapid turnover of
command and control structures, six
months duration, as it is being proposed
in the documents before us, do not
augur well for effectiveness and
efficiency.
“Such a process will undermine, even if
it not intended, the military capacity to
sustain the push against the insurgents,
who also have the uncanny ability to
adapt and rejig their operational
strategies,” he said.
He urged the leaders to allow Nigeria
control the force throughout the period
of the war against Boko Haram. Buhari
said: “I am inclined, on account of the
above, to suggest for Your Excellences,
consideration that Nigeria retains the
position of the Force Commander of the
MNJTF for the period of the war effort.
“This command will be to the the
effectiveness of military strategy, since
Nigeria will be providing the bulk of the
troops and the main theatre of the war
is on Nigerian soil.
“Our meeting today is premised on the
common resolve and commitment of
member states of Lake Chad Basin
Commission and Benin to maintain the
momentum in degrading the capacity of
the insurgents until they are completely
defeated.
“It is also going out with urgency to
mitigate the suffering which has been
imposed on our civilian population by
the nefarious activities of the insurgents
and the terrorists,” Buhari noted