Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, has emerged as Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
The emergence of Itno as Chairman of the LCBC at the 16th Summit of the Commission in Abuja on Tuesday followed the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure on Monday.
Speaking at the LCBC Summit, Buhari charged the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin to exert the final push towards ending terrorism in the Sahel region.
The president also charged his colleagues from the other five member countries to provide the required political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF in order to motivate the formations to deliver on their mandates.
He urged that the fight against the Boko Haram terror group and other forms of threats in the region must remain the lead priority.
The Nigerian leader also assured the MNJTF of the commitment of the leaders of the region to the welfare and provision of equipment to the troops.
Buhari said: “To our gallant troops in the field, ensuring the safety and stability of the region, we recommit ourselves to sustaining the ongoing counterterrorism efforts by providing you with the requisite needs to function optimally.
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“I wish to assure you that your welfare would continue to remain our priority. I urge you all to rededicate yourselves as we take the final push toward eradicating terrorism from our region.
“Together, we shall restore and transform the Lake Chad Region to its former glory.
“I equally express sincere gratitude to our partners for the support they continue to offer us in our joint collaborative efforts to fight the challenges that have hampered the sustainable development of the region, particularly climate change and terrorism.
”Together, we have shown that with commitment and with the desired support, we can achieve success.”
The president, therefore, urged that member countries must continue to remain committed to ensuring that the diversity in the region continues to be a source of strength and a positive cohesive force for the people of the Lake Chad Region.
“My dear brother-Presidents, we must remain unrelenting in providing the needed political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF in its efforts at delivering regional initiatives that will revamp Lake Chad and revitalize the socio-economic activities of the region,” Buhari urged.
According to Buhari, the fight against Boko Haram and other forms of criminality in the region must remain issues on the front burner of discourse in the region.
