By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum, Mai Mala Buni, has pledged to take the operational challenges confronting the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amid renewed calls for stronger regional cooperation against terrorism and insecurity.
Buni made the commitment during a visit to the headquarters of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the MNJTF in N’Djamena, Chad, where he held discussions with regional officials on security, stabilisation and economic development across the Lake Chad Basin.
The governor said inadequate resources, equipment and manpower, coupled with Niger Republic’s withdrawal from the MNJTF, were among the challenges undermining the force’s operational effectiveness.
“I will convey your successes and challenges to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly issues relating to the withdrawal of the Niger Republic from the task force, as well as challenges of inadequate resources, equipment, and manpower, among others,” Buni said.
He said addressing the challenges confronting the regional force was critical to sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin.
At the LCBC headquarters, Buni congratulated the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, and pledged a stronger working relationship between the Governors’ Forum and the Commission.
He said the region was facing a critical period in which insecurity, displacement, climate change, economic vulnerability and violent extremism continued to threaten the livelihoods and stability of millions of people.
“You have assumed this responsibility at a critical moment for the Lake Chad Basin, when our shared security, stabilization, and development challenges require stronger political coordination, deeper institutional partnerships, and a renewed sense of common purpose,” he said.
Buni assured the new LCBC leadership of the Forum’s readiness to work closely with the Commission to advance common security and development priorities.
He also commended President Tinubu for supporting multilateral cooperation, the MNJTF and regional stabilisation initiatives, describing the Federal Government’s backing as crucial to achieving lasting peace and shared prosperity in the region.
According to him, the challenges confronting the Lake Chad Basin do not respect national or administrative boundaries, making collective action and stronger coordination among member states imperative.
“Our response must therefore be anchored on solidarity, coordination, and collective action,” he stressed.
The governor further urged the LCBC to deepen its partnerships with the African Union, United Nations Development Programme, international financial institutions, bilateral partners and other development stakeholders to mobilise greater support for regional security, reconstruction and economic development.
During his visit to the MNJTF headquarters, Buni received briefings on the force’s operational achievements and challenges in combating terrorism across the Lake Chad region.
He pledged to present the concerns raised by the military leadership to President Tinubu and advocate enhanced support from member states to strengthen the task force’s capacity to protect communities and sustain regional security gains.
Buni’s visit comes amid continuing efforts by Lake Chad Basin countries to strengthen joint security operations and address the interconnected challenges of terrorism, displacement, climate change and economic hardship threatening the region.
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