The proposed multi-national military base for the joint offensive against Boko Haram will cost about $30 million over the next year, said the head of the Lake Chad Basin Commission security grouping on Wednesday, June 11, 2015.
“The total amount required to set up and sustain the MNJTF headquarters for the next 12 months is about $30 million (27 million euros),” said Sanusi Imran Abdullahi, head of the Lake Chad Basin Commission security grouping that consists of Nigeria and her neighbouring countries.
“The troop-contributing countries are responsible for equipping and sustenance of their battalion.” The task force, which has its headquarters in Chad’s capital N’Djamena is led by a senior Nigerian officer. The force was scheduled to have been operational in November.
Troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon have been fighting Boko Haram insurgents in northeast Nigeria for several months and have claimed a series of successes, taking back large swathes of territory from the insurgents.
However since President Buhari took office on May 29, Boko Haram have reverted heavily to bombing attacks with 12 recorded and a total of 109 people killed.
According to the Vanguard, Mr. Abdullahi said the quick deployment of the force was needed to “sustain the offensive on the Boko Haram terrorist group who should not be given the time and space to regroup, as this may constitute a much more potent threat than we witnessed.” He also called on to other regional groupings to contribute resources to help fight the insurgency.
