5 nations to contribute 5 battallion to fight Boko Haram

Abuja - Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Niger and
Chad will contribute one battalion of troops each to
the international force set up to combat Boko Haram
and other insurgent groups.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, made this known when he
briefed newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
Abati spoke on more measures taken to strengthen fight
against terrorism in the sub-region.
He said the decision to contribute the additional five
battalion of troop to the international force was reached
at the regional Summit on Security held in Paris, France,
last Saturday.
The summit was convened by President Francois
Hollande of France to fashion ways to deal with the
Boko Haram terrorist group.
Abati said that France, United States of America and
the United Kingdom would extend technical assistance
to assist the international force set up to patrol the five
nations’ border areas.
“Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region will
continue to cooperate and coordinate efforts to combat
the Boko Haram menace.
“The countries will come together to put in place an
effective border management regime.
“No effort will be spared to stop the proliferation of
small arms and light weapons and the supply of arms
and equipment made available to terrorists,’’ he said.
Abati noted that Jonathan considered the measures very
useful aspects of the concerted international effort to
combat terrorism and put an end to the Boko Haram
menace.
He also said that the president had directed relevant
government agencies to ensure enhanced
implementation of relief programmes in the areas
affected by Boko Haram atrocities.
The media adviser said the president specifically
directed National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) to intensify ongoing relief assistance
programmes in partnership with donor agencies.
He said NEMA should ensure rapid deployment of relief
assistance to the affected local government areas and
communities.
The relief assistance, according to the president, will
include, the provision of food, medical, basic relief
commodities, and conditional cash transfer programmes
for affected households.
The president, he said, also directed the assessment of
the extent of damage to public and private
infrastructure, amongst others.
Abati said Jonathan assured that every necessary
measure would be taken to find the school girls
abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government
Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, on April 14.
He added that the president reiterated his
administration’s determination to ensure the safety and
security of schools in Borno and other parts of the
country.
Abati said Jonathan further assured that government
would provide counselling services to any affected
students to enable them return to school and continue
with their academic work.
He said the president assured that the Federal
Government would rebuild the Chibok School and fortify
security in other schools.
“In collaboration with the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy
on Education, former British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown and the private sector, the government will
launch the `Safe Schools Initiative.
“This will address security issues, rebuild the destroyed
schools and provide equipment and materials,’’ Abati
quoted the president as saying.
He said Jonathan expressed appreciation to the
international community on the efforts at assisting on
security situation in Nigeria and in particular the
regional summit hosted by Hollande. (NAN)