President Muhammadu Buhari, maintains that Nigeria should lead the regional war against Boko Haram.
Buhari said since the war is being fought on Nigerian soil, the country should for the duration of the operation, lead the Multi National Joint Task Force.
He said this on Thursday, June 11, when he met with Heads of state and government meeting of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin in Abuja.
The 4 countries, including Nigeria, are expected to pool an 8,700-strong force to wage war against the Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
A proposal for a six-month rotating command between the five nations had been suggested, but Buhari insisted that Nigeria should lead the war until Boko Haram is defeated.
He said: “While I agree that this is a joint operation with shared responsibilities, I am, however, of the opinion that military operations that are subjected to rapid turnover of command and control structures, six months duration, as it is being proposed in the documents before us, do not augur well for effectiveness and efficiency
“Six months duration as it is being proposed does not augur well for effectiveness and efficiency. Such a process will undermine, even if it is not intended, the military capacity to sustain the push against the insurgents, who also have the uncanny ability to adapt and rejig their operational strategies.”
“I’m inclined on account of the above to suggest to your excellencies that Nigeria retains the position of the field commander of the MNJTF (Multi-National Joint Task Force) for the period of the war effort.”
“This command will be to the effectiveness of military strategy, since Nigeria will be providing the bulk of the troops and the main theatre of the war is on Nigerian soil.”
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