FG CONFIRMS NIGER’S RETURN TO MJTF
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The federal government on Wednesday confirmed the return of the Republic of Niger back to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).
The MJTF was formed by the countries within the Lake Chad Basin to fight terrorism and other transnational crimes.
Niger withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2024 and suspended contributions of troops to the MJTF after the country’s military overthrew a democratically elected government.
Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, Wednesday, announced this at a briefing to herald activities marking the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, in Abuja.
The minister said Niger’s return to the MJTF was through the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, who visited the country last month.
He said Niger’s return to the security body would help in securing our very extensive border between her and Nigeria and also contribute to the overall effectiveness of the joint task force.Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Kana, the minister said the renewed vigour by the Nigerian military has led to a reduction of incidents of security breaches by an estimated 65 percent across the country.
He said the military would continue with its onslaught against adversaries of the state until the country achieves a significant level of security.
Badaru said oil production in the Niger Delta region has received a big boost as the country’s production has doubled from the level obtainable last year.
He said: “There is hope of achieving a 2-million-barrel per day output before the end of the year 2024.”
The minister assured that the federal government would continue to prioritize the welfare, training, and equipment needs of troops to maintain their operational readiness and efficiency.
He noted that the current administration is adopting a proactive approach to combating security challenges by harnessing our intelligence resources and having stronger partnerships with West African neighbours.
Badaru said: “The federal government will also continue to equip the Armed Forces with combat capabilities, training, and equipment with a view to reducing, to the barest minimum, casualties due to operations.”
He said as part of federal government plans to improve the welfare of veterans, the ministry has established skill acquisition centres for dependents of veterans at Takuma Taraba State and plans to replicate the same in other five geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said: “I am happy to inform you that provision for more skills acquisition centres in different geopolitical zones are being worked out for inclusion in the 2025 Budget of the Ministry.
“These centres when operational would enable our veterans, widows, and dependents of fallen heroes to acquire skills that would support their families and consequently take many of those that are unemployed off the streets.”
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration is organized on January 15 every year to honour departed heroes and heroines who paid the supreme price during the First World War, the Nigeria Civil War, and other internal security operations.
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