By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), OFR, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and collective security, underscoring the need for sustained collaboration to degrade terrorist networks and stabilise the Lake Chad Basin.
According to an official signed statement by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Enderline Chukwu, the Minister made this known during his recent official visit to N’Djamena, Republic of Chad, where he participated in the meeting of Ministers of Defence of Troop Contributing Countries under the Multinational Joint Task Force framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
The meeting brought together Defence Ministers and representatives from member states, including Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Benin, alongside senior military leadership, intelligence chiefs, and other key stakeholders involved in regional security operations. It provided a strategic platform to review ongoing operations and reinforce collective efforts aimed at addressing terrorism and cross-border threats within the Lake Chad Basin.
Discussions at the meeting centred on reports presented by the Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Intelligence and Security Agencies, with particular focus on the operational effectiveness of the Multinational Joint Task Force and evolving security dynamics across the region. The closed-door session also featured frank deliberations on critical challenges, including force deployment, funding constraints, and the shifting nature of threats confronting member states.
General Musa commended the Government and people of Chad for hosting the meeting and acknowledged their continued leadership within the Multinational Joint Task Force framework. The participating Ministers also expressed appreciation to the President of Chad and Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Summit for his sustained support in advancing regional peace and security initiatives.
