Godson Irikefe, Abuja
June 11, 2015 – Nigeria has pledged a total sum of $100million to the Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF) in the ongoing fight against members of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
President Muhammadu Buhari made the revelation while speaking at the summit of Heads of States and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Issoufou Mahamadu, President of the Republic of Niger, Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad. Boni Yayi, President of the Republic of Benin, Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroun, Represented by Mebe Ngo’o Edgard Alain, Minister of Defence, Republic of Cameroun, The Honourable Ministers of Defence of Niger, Chad, Benin, The Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission & Benin Engr Sanusi Imran Abdullahi.
President Buhari said that notwithstanding this pledge by my government, funding still remains a major issue of this campaign.
“ I had raised this issue at my meeting with the G7 leaders, while I am encouraged by their support, I also urge you to garner the support of your international friends and partners to sustain this campaign. Our campaign against Boko Haram must be seen within the wider context of the global war against terror. Terrorism has no frontiers and they must, because of the great implication for regional and global peace and security, be defeated”, he said.
He said the meeting is premised on the common resolve and commitment of member states of the LCBC & Benin to maintain the momentum in degrading the capacity of the insurgents until they are completely defeated.
“ It is also borne out of the urgency to mitigate the suffering that has been imposed on our civilian population by the nefarious activities of the insurgents and terrorists.
“ Our meeting today provides us an excellent opportunity to finalize the instruments for the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in order to give life to our joint military campaign to decisively defeat the insurgents”, he said.
He expressed the gratitude of Nigerian government for their unwavering support in the campaign against the Boko haram insurgents.
“We deeply regret the loss of gallant soldiers who have fallen in the battle, as well as numerous civilians who have died in the cruel hands of the insurgents. Nigeria will forever cherish the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order that we may be free from the strangle hold of purveyors of hate and extremism”, he said.
