Fighting insurgency; Buhari assures MJTF of $100 million

Kunle Awosiyan |

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment to stop Boko Haram insurgency as he promised to redeem the pledge of $100 million to the Multinational Joint Task Force.

He said this at an extra-ordinary meeting of the commission’s Heads of State and Government held at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja ON Thursday.

He said, “Nigeria has already pledged the sum of $100m for the smooth takeoff of the MJTF. I hereby reassure you that my government will keep faith with this promise.”

The president however kicked against a proposed guideline of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin that recommended six months duration for change of the command and control structure of the MJ T F.

He appealed to his colleagues to allow Nigeria retain the position of the Force Commander of the MJTF throughout the period of the war against insurgency, saying that military operations that are subjected to rapid change of command and control structures would not be efficient.

“Nigeria should be allowed to retain the position of the commander since the country would be providing the bulk of the troops and the main theatre of the war is on Nigerian soil. 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 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 reequipped their operational strategies.

I am inclined, on account of the above, to suggest for your Excellencies’ 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 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.”

The meeting was attended by President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic; President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad Republic and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic.