In compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s order, directing the relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) to Maiduguri, the military said monday that the reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of MCCC for Operation Zaman Lafiya for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to the Borno State capital.
In a statement issued by the acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the military said the team, which is led by a two-star general, has already commenced work in earnest and comprises elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant army headquarters departments and other combat support components.
“The centre will serve as a forward command base for the Chief of Army Staff and other service chiefs,” the statement said.
The army spokesman explained that the centre “is essentially an elaboration of an already existing army headquarters command and control arrangement”.
“From now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from this centre.
“I wish to inform you also that its establishment would not create another layer of command structure but would add impetus and renewed vigour to Operation Zaman Lafiya, all aimed at bringing terrorism and insurgency to an end. An alternate command centre is also being established in Yola,” he said.
In a related development, Buhari monday reaffirmed his administration’s total commitment to completely eradicate the Boko Haram menace in the shortest possible time.
Buhari spoke at a meeting with President Francois Hollande of France after his participation in yesterday's G-7 Outreach Programme in Elmau Germany.
Buhari also welcomed greater support and cooperation from France and other friendly nations for its ongoing efforts to overcome Boko Haram and restore full security and normalcy to areas affected by the group’s atrocities.
Buhari, in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, said his administration was already taking concrete action to build a more efficient and effective coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries against the terrorists group.
Nigeria, the president added, would appreciate more intelligence on the terrorist group’s links with ISIS, movements, training and sources of its arms and ammunition to facilitate the perfection of fresh tactics and strategies being evolved to overcome terrorism and insurgency in the country and its sub-region.
He told his French counterpart that there was absolutely no link between religion and the atrocities of Boko Haram.
“There is clearly no religious basis for the actions of the group. Their atrocities show that members of the group either do not know God at all or they don't believe in Him,” Buhari said.
Remarking, Hollande gave kudos for Buhari’s concerted efforts to galvanise Nigeria’s armed forces, security agencies and neighbouring countries for more decisive action to eradicate Boko Haram.
Hollande equally assured Buhari that France will give Nigeria and its coalition partners, greater support against terrorism and insecurity, including military and intelligence cooperation to help them overcome the security challenge posed by Boko Haram and its global terrorist allies as quickly as possible.
The French leader called for greater bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in other areas including trade, economic and cultural relations.
Buhari equally received similar pledges of enhanced support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and Chancellor Angela Merkel, who he also conferred with before departing from the venue of the G-7 2015 Summit.
The president will return to Abuja Tuesday.
