President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, June 11, 2015 rejected a proposed guideline brought by the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic that asks for six months duration for change of the command and control structure of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MJTF.
He however, asked his colleagues to allow Nigeria retain the position of the Force Commander of the MJTF until the period of the war against insurgency is over.
President Buhari, a former Military Head of State, made this appeal in his opening speech 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.
Maj-Gen Tukur Buratai of the Nigerian Army was recently appointed the Force Commander of the MJTF.
It was argued by President Buhari that military operations that are subjected to continuous change of command and control structures is to become inefficient.
He stated that Nigeria should not be disallowed to retain the position of the commander since the country would be providing the largest number of troops than any other affected country and the main theatre of the war is on Nigerian soil.
President Buhari 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 regain 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 MJTF 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.”
President Buhari also vowed 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,” Nigeria’s President declared.
He went further to emphasize on the importance of strengthening cross border patrol and intelligence sharing, adding that efforts must be targeted at limiting the insurgents’ capacity to acess funds and weapons.
President Buhari, in a bid to set the tone for the meeting said that the parley was premised on common resolve and commitment of member states to maintain the momentum in degrading the capacity of the terrorists until they are completely annihilated.
He stated that that the parley was also essential in order to mitigate the penury which has been induced on the civilian population by the nefarious activities of the insurgents and the terrorists.
He added that the summit also gave them a chance to conclude on the instruments of the operations of force in order to give life to the joint military campaign to decisively defeat the insurgents.
“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,” President Buhari said.
President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic; President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad Republic and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic were all seated at the meeting.
The Cameroonian President was well represented by his Minister of Defence.
