DHQ Seeks Sustainable Strategy to Strengthen MNJTF
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has called for a comprehensive review of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to strengthen its capacity to address emerging security threats across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), made the call at the opening of a two-day high-level international forum at the National Defence College, Abuja.
The forum, organised by the DHQ in collaboration with the Irregular Warfare Centre of the National Defence College, brought together military leaders, policymakers, academics and international partners to discuss ways to improve the regional force’s effectiveness.
General Musa said the MNJTF remained a critical instrument in the fight against terrorism, transnational crime and other security challenges 11 years after its establishment.
However, he noted that changes in the regional security environment required a reassessment of the task force’s structure, operational capabilities, intelligence gathering, command and control, logistics and funding.
The minister urged participants to develop practical and sustainable solutions that would enable the force to respond more effectively to evolving threats, particularly in the Sahel, while addressing changes in international support troops. He commended the offices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to efforts to restore peace and stability in the Lake Chad Basin.
Musa expressed optimism that the participation of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop-contributing countries, serving and former force commanders, and 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 consideration to the forum’s outcomes, adding that the Federal Government considered the MNJTF an important instrument of regional security and collective African action.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, said the forum provided an opportunity for military practitioners, policymakers, academics and strategic partners to assess the MNJTF’s experience, continuing relevance and future operational requirements.
Oluyede stressed that the cross-border nature of contemporary security threats required sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability and mutual trust among countries participating in joint operations.
He called for constructive and forward-looking deliberations that would produce practical recommendations to improve the task force’s operations and strengthen security across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.
The defence chief added that securing the region remained a shared responsibility requiring sustained commitment and stronger partnerships among regional and international stakeholders.
The forum is expected to identify practical measures for improving the MNJTF’s capacity to respond to evolving security challenges and strengthen regional cooperation.
