Over two billion naira is the amount needed to fund operations of the multinational joint security forces organised to fight insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin area.
The Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Mr Sanusi Abdullahi, told Chiefs of Defence Staff from member states in Abuja that the amount would fund requirements of small equipment and troop welfare in the on-going fight against terrorism.
“The Lake Chad Basin Commission is committed and determined to support the multinational joint task force to see that the force is maintained and sustained at top capacity to face the challenges of its mission.
“In this regard, we are submitting to the council of ministers of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, a budget of 8.714billion CFA to fund urgent requirements of small equipment, troops’ welfare and daily needs,” he said.
Members of the commission and Benin Republic have been meeting in Nigeria’s capital city to re-evaluate counter terrorism strategies adopted in the past.
It was the fourth meeting of ministers and Chiefs of Defense Staff, and heads of security intelligence to review best strategies in the fight against terrorism.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, believes that such collaborations from member states is needed to fight terrorism.
He said; “This is the time for affirmative action. It is very important for us to build enduring structures that will have pragmatic value on the Lake Chad Basin Commission community.
“The military structure in terms of the multinational joint task force is one of such structures and has to be fully activated.”
