Terrorism: Jonathan Meets With Presidents Of Four Neighbouring Countries

Rep of Cameroon President, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o,

 Presidents Thomas Boni Yayi (Benin),Goodluck Jonathan 

(Nigeria), Mahamadou Issoufou (Niger) and Idriss 

Deby (Chad) at a one day summit on terrorism in Niamey,

 October 7, 2014 (pix:abc.net.au)

President Goodluck Jonathan met yesterday with the Heads of State and Government of four neighbouring countries, namely, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic and Cameroon to "review ongoing collaboration against terrorism and agree on further joint action to curb terrorism and insurgency within and across their national boundaries." The meeting took place in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic. 

A statement after the meeting said the "heads of state regrets the persistence of Boko Haram Islamic sect's atrocious acts of terror on people and security forces in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries," and pledged to pull resources to adequately respond to the challenge of terrorism. 

President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic was quoted as saying that the four nations require "a common strategy and a common operating concept to improve and put together our intelligence capacities and our capacities on the ground (to fight Boko Haram)."

It will be recalled that in a press release issued on October 6, the president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the president will be accompanied to the summit by the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of state for defense and  the chief of defense staff.

President Goodluck Jonathan and President 

Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger at the one-day summit

 on terrorism in Niamey (pix:abc.net.au)

Below is the press release:   

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will undertake a one-day official visit to Niamey, capital of Niger Republic tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7, 2014 to participate in an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

President Jonathan and other participating Heads of State and Government  are expected to review ongoing collaboration against terrorism and agree on further joint action to curb terrorism and insurgency within and across their national boundaries. 

It will be recalled that President Jonathan and the Heads of State and Government of the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic resolved at a meeting in Paris in May this year to intensify joint efforts to curtail terrorism and violent extremism.

At the Paris Summit hosted by President Francois Hollande of France in the aftermath of the dastardly abduction of the Chibok College girls,  President Jonathan and neighbouring heads of state and government also  agreed to establish joint anti-terrorism patrols and a system of sharing  intelligence to support operations against terrorists and other cross-border criminals.

They likewise agreed to create a dedicated team to draw up and advise on the implementation of a regional counter-terrorism strategy under the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.  

Benin Republic, which participated in the Paris Summit but is not a member of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, has been invited to the Niamey talks.

The Lake Chad Basin Commission was established in 1964 by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon with the mandate of sustainably and equitably managing   shared water resources of the Lake Chad Basin and promoting regional integration, peace and security across the Basin.

President Jonathan who will be accompanied to Niamey by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the Chief Of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and other senior government officials will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the one-day summit.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 6, 2014