President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said he had ordered the nation’s service chiefs to produce a list of the logistics needed by the military to successfully execute the war against the Boko Haram sect.
He said he would forward the list to the leaders of the Group of Seven Industrialised Nations (G-7) based on their request.
Buhari disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the end of the extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government of Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He said the leaders of the G-7 requested for the list during his recent meeting with them in Baravia, Germany.
He added that based on the request, he had informed his colleagues in the commission to also prepare their countries’ lists for the same purpose.
He explained that the final list that would be forwarded to the G-7 would be drafted at the end of the African Union summit holding in South Africa.
The President said, “You will recall that I was personally invited to the G-7 meeting. I went there and I was asked to brief the G-7 and I was impressed with the tremendous sympathy they have for this sub-region, Lake Chad Basin Commission. All of them from President Barrack Obama are willing to help us.
“They have actually asked me to discuss with their Chief of Defence Staff or their ministries of Defence or talk to them directly on what we need. So, I brought this case to our meeting here and I told them that Nigeria has gone quite far.
“I had five hours meeting with my service chiefs and I asked them to produce comprehensive logistic requirements.
“I also advised my colleagues to be prepared to produce their logistic requirements so that after the AU meeting, we will agree on what to send to the head of G-7, President of Germany, Angela Merkel.”
Buhari said members of the G-7 were anxious to render assistance especially when the Boko Haram sect declared its loyalty to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
He also explained that the rules of engagement among the troops of the member- states had been clearly spelt out.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Thursday paid an operational and morale boosting visit to troops battling the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno and Adamawa states.
During the visit, he encouraged the troops of 7 Division Strike Group and 121 Special Force Battalion that comprised the Armed Forces and Nigerian Army Special Forces located in Pulka, 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, 28 Task Force Brigade and 174 Battalion in Mubi.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said that in Pulka, the Commander, 7 DSG, Lt. Col. Umar Abubakar, and the Commanding Officer of 121 SF Battalion, Lt. Col. Murtala Abdulsalam, briefed the CAS on their respective commands.
It added that Minimah commended them for their performances and thereafter told the troops he came to thank and commend them for their valour, courage and bravery, “which had turned the tide against the Boko Haram terrorists and their accomplishments thus far.”
“The COAS informed the troops that the President and indeed Nigerians are proud of them and reiterated his determined effort to continue to support and encourage them and enjoined them to sustain the momentum,” the statement added.
Minimah also urged the soldiers to be more dedicated, disciplined and professional in their conduct.
At the headquarters of 26 Task Force Brigade Gwoza, the COAS was received and briefed by the Brigade Commander, Col. Irenuma Irabor, who was accompanied by Lt. Col. Chidozie Amoha, Garrison Commander of 26 Task Force Brigade
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