By Saminu Ibrahim
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), has called for the repositioning of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to effectively confront emerging security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.
Musa made the call on Tuesday, while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the opening of a two-day High-Level International Forum on the MNJTF at the National Defence College, Abuja.
The forum, organised by the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the Irregular Warfare Centre of the National Defence College, is themed: “Repositioning the Multinational Joint Task Force to Effectively Combat Evolving Threat Dynamics in the Lake Chad Region.”
The minister said that 11 years after its establishment, the MNJTF remained critical to efforts to combat terrorism, transnational crime and other forms of insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin.
He, however, noted that the regional security environment had changed significantly, making it necessary to reassess the task force’s structure, capabilities, intelligence, command and control, logistics and financing.
Musa urged participants to move beyond routine assessments and develop practical and sustainable measures to strengthen the MNJTF, particularly against the backdrop of evolving threats in the Sahel and changing patterns of international support.
He commended the sacrifices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to the fight against insecurity.
The minister expressed optimism that the participation of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop-contributing countries, serving and former force commanders, as well as other strategic stakeholders, would produce actionable recommendations for strengthening the task force.
He assured participants that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria would give due attention to the outcome of the forum.
Musa said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarded the MNJTF as an important instrument for promoting regional security and collective African action.
In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the forum provided a timely platform for military practitioners, policymakers, academics and strategic partners to assess the experience, continuing relevance and future employment of the MNJTF.
Oluyede stressed that the transnational nature of contemporary security threats required sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability, mutual trust and the ability to adapt collective responses to emerging realities.
He called for candid and forward-looking deliberations capable of producing practical recommendations for strengthening the MNJTF and enhancing security across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.
The CDS further emphasised that security in the Lake Chad Basin remained a shared responsibility, requiring sustained commitment and stronger partnerships among regional and international stakeholders.
The two-day forum brings together senior military and security officials, policymakers, academics, practitioners and strategic partners to examine the future of the MNJTF and identify practical measures for strengthening collective security in the region.
