The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd.) has called on the countries in the Lake Chad Basin to adopt intensified collaborative action against terrorism in the area.

Gusau said there was no better time than now for the countries in the Lake Chad Basin-Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger and Chad – and the Republic of Benin to become united against terrorism, irrespective of the existing differences.

The minister’s comments were contained in an address read on his behalf by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, at the fourth meeting of ministers of defence, chiefs of defence staff, and heads of intelligence and security of the member-countries of Lake Chad Basin commission and the Republic of Benin, in Abuja, on Monday.

He urged the member-nations of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Republic of Benin to activate the Multinational Joint Task Force, to make it responsive to the needs of the community.

He said, “This meeting points to our common resolve to work together to put an end to the menace that has become a regional and indeed global problem. “If there is any time for us to rise with one voice irrespective of our differences, it is now. This is the time for affirmative action.

“It is very important for us to build enduring structures that will have pragmatic value on the LCBC community.

“The military structure in terms of the Multi National Joint Task Force is one of such structures and has to be fully activated.”

He also urged the member-states of the LCBC to ensure the implementation of the resolutions of the extraordinary summit of Heads of States and Government of the commission, which held in Niamey, Niger, on October 7, 2014.

The resolutions include the development of a common strategy to fight the Boko Haram insurgency; the deployment of 700 troops by each of the member-states and Benin along their borders by November 1, 20-14; the operationalisation of the headquarters and the MNJTF and regional Intelligence Fusion Unit; and the pursuit of strategic support from international partners in the area of intelligence, such as the deployment of drones.

Gusau also called on the members and Benin to implement the resolution to form a Quick Reaction Force to carry out aggressive patrol in the area through the establishment of joint and simultaneous patrols.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the LCBC, Mr. Sanusi Abdulahi, stated the readiness of the commission to maintain and sustain the MNJTF at top capacity to respond to emergent challenges.

He said that the commission had forwarded a budget of 8.4bn CFA (N2.6bn) to the council of ministers of the LCBC to handle procurement of small arms, troops welfare and training for the MNJTF.