N’DJAMENA — Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional military cooperation, calling for “sustained collaboration” to dismantle terrorist networks operating across borders. Speaking at a high-level summit in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, General Musa emphasised that the stabilisation of the Lake Chad Basin remains a top priority for the Nigerian government.
The meeting brought together Defence Ministers and military chiefs from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) member states, including Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Benin.
Strategic Review
The summit served as a critical platform for regional leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
Key items on the agenda included:
Operational Effectiveness: Reviewing reports from Chiefs of Defence Staff on the MNJTF’s recent successes and setbacks.
Intelligence Sharing: Analysis of emerging security dynamics provided by regional intelligence heads.
Resource Management: Addressing “frank” concerns regarding funding constraints and force deployment.”Degrading terrorist networks requires more than just military might; it requires a unified strategic front,” Gen Musa noted during the closed-door sessions.
A Unified Front
The discussions highlighted the evolving nature of threats in the region, where insurgent groups frequently exploit porous borders. Ministers acknowledged that while progress has been made, the “evolving threat environment” necessitates a more flexible and well-funded response. Gen Musa extended his commendation to the Chadian government for its leadership role within the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), thanking the President of Chad for his continued support in advancing regional peace. The MNJTF remains one of the most significant collective security arrangements in Africa, tasked with ending the decade-long insurgency that has displaced millions across the four bordering nations.
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