Due to the menace of the Boko Haram terrorist sect that has been operational in Nigeria since 2009, regional neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Niger Republic have joined forces to create the MNJTF. To be headquartered in Ndjamena, the Chadian capital, the force will be made up of 7,500 troops and will be charged with checking Boko Haram's cross-border activities.
Yesterday, presidents from the contributing nations met in Abuja to discuss the modalities for the force during which President Buhari pledged Nigeria's contribution to the project. Nigeria had made the commitment under former President Goodluck Jonathan to provide the task force with the funds in supporting its operation and President Buhari has agreed to honour it.
Speaking at the extraordinary summit of the heads of state and government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin, President Buhari also canvassed that Nigeria permanently command the task force until Boko Haram insurgency is defeated. He objected to the suggestion by other members that the leadership of the task force rotate on a six monthly basis.
President Buhari said: I hereby reassure you that my government will keep faith with this promise. 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. 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."
Among the regional leaders who attended the summit were President Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, President Idriss Deby of Chad and Cameroon's defence minister Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, representing President Paul Biya. President Buhari said he intends to continue his thank you visits to the remaining Lake Chad Basin Commission member states very shortly, having already visited Chad and Niger Republic.
President Buhari said that his administration would sustain the peace in the country after the war on insurgency but appealed to those displaced by the insurgency to return to their communities for rehabilitation. He added that churches, mosques and shops destroyed would be rehabilitated as well by the administration.
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