Defence Minister urges support for MNJTF

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali has appealed to countries and other donors that pledged financial and material support to the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to redeem their pledges to enable the force execute its mandate effectively.A statement issued by the minister’s spokesman, Col. Tukur Gusau, said Dan-Ali made the appeal during a courtesy visit by Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff from troops contributing countries of Multinational Joint Task Force, to President Idris Deby of Chad on Wednesday.

The troops contributing countries to the MNJTF include Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroun and Benin Republic.

Dan-Ali also urged Deby to use his good office as African Union Chairman to persuade leaders of contributing countries, organizations and individuals fulfill their promises to the force in support of the fight against Boko Haram.

The Nigerian Defence Minister also appealed to African leaders to provide a better means of livelihood for the people so that terrorists would not have the ability to recruit youths into terrorist activities across the region.

In his response President Idris Deby assured the visiting Ministers and Chiefs of Defence staff of the support of all LCBC Presidents to the MNJTF operations and also promised to impress on the donors to fulfil their promise.

The Chadian leader also paid tribute to the soldiers of Multinational Joint Task Force and urged them to clear the region of Boko Haram terrorists as soon as possible.

It would be recalled that only Nigerian had redeemed its pledge of financial contributions to the MNJTF since the force was established at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Chad basin area.

Troops contributing countries, organisations and some individuals had made commitments to fund some of the force’s activities as well as provide material support to the force.

The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai on a recent visit to the MNJTF headquarters reechoed Nigeria’s call on organisations and countries to redeem pledges made to the force.