The Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Governors’ Forum, LCBCGF, and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni has pledged maximum support to the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, to enhance security across the Lake Chad Basin.*
Governor Buni made the pledge on Thursday after receiving a security briefing at MNJTF Headquarters in N’Djamena, on the sidelines of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.
Commending the MNJTF for the tangible improvement in security across the region, the governor said more needed to be done for the Commission’s developmental activities to achieve full impact.
He stressed the need to deploy troops on the islands, especially within Nigerian and other countries’ territories in the Lake Chad Basin, and urged the MNJTF to expedite action in that regard.
Governor Buni disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the political leadership of the Republic of Niger regarding its return to the MNJTF. He noted that the absence of Nigerien forces has created a porous area exploited by terrorists to hibernate, move freely and launch cross-border attacks.
The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the exclusive funding of Operation LAKE SANITY III on behalf of Troops Contributing Countries. He said the gesture demonstrated the President’s determination to improve security and boost development and commercial activities in the region.
He pledged to brief President Tinubu upon his return to Nigeria on areas requiring improvement to facilitate increased socio-economic activities.
Governor Buni further commended the founding fathers of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the MNJTF, and pledged to mobilize political will to sustain operations and curb the infiltration and activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP.
