Buhari urges Lake Chad Basin Commission to keep Nigerian as Head of Multinational Joint Task Force
President Muhammadu Buhari has opposed a proposed guideline by the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin to instill a six month-duration for the command of the Multinational Joint Task Force.
During a meeting of the commission’s Heads of State and Government held at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja – which was attended by President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic; President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad Republic, President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, while Cameroonian President was represented by his Minister of Defence,- President Buhari in his opening remarks, urged other Heads of State to allow Nigeria retain the position of the Force Commander of the MJTF throughout the period of the war against Boko Haram.
He said that constant change of command and control structures would affect the force’s efficiency and Nigeria should keep heading the as the war was mainly taking place in the country and would be providing most of the troops.
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 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 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.”
Buhari also promised to redeem the pledge made by Nigeria to contribute $100m to the force.
“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.
“You will recall in my inaugural address on May 29, 2015, I affirmed that I will consult regularly with heads of government of our immediate neighborhood and I have within four days of my assumption of duty as President embarked on a thank you visits to the Presidents of Niger and Chad.
“This important assignment was however interrupted because I had to honour the invitation extended to me by the G-7 member states to attend their meeting in Germany.
“I intend to continue his thank you visits to the remaining Lake Chad Basin Commission member states very shortly.”
