French President François Hollande says his country will help the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) with equipment and intelligence in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and the African sub-region. The MNJTF countries are Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin Republic.

Hollande stated this yesterday after a closed-door bilateral meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a three-day official visit to France at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

At a joint press conference, Hollande said France is concerned about the increasing spate of insecurity in Nigeria and the entire West Africa. He added that his administration is ready to render support and assistance to Nigeria to enable the country tackle insurgency and all forms of extremism in the country.

The French president stated that Nigeria’s economy remains very strong, in spite of the falling price of crude oil in the international market, which has affected Nigeria’s expected revenue. He therefore said France will increase its business partnership with Nigeria as well as invest one hundred and thirty million Euros in the development of road, power and water infrastructure in Nigeria.