Defence Headquarters (DHQ) convened a two-day High-Level International Forum at the National Defence College

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has convened a two-day High-Level International Forum at the National Defence College, Abuja, to examine ways of repositioning the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to effectively respond to evolving security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and wider Sahel region.

Declaring the Forum open on 6 October 2026, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, stressed the need to reassess the MNJTF’s structure, capabilities, intelligence, command and control, logistics and financing, in view of changing security dynamics and evolving patterns of international support. The Minister called for practical, sustainable and adaptive measures to strengthen the Task Force, while commending the sacrifices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to combating terrorism and transnational crime.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability and mutual trust among regional and international stakeholders. He noted that the transnational nature of contemporary threats requires collective and adaptable responses.

The Forum, organised by DHQ in collaboration with the Irregular Warfare Centre of the National Defence College, brings together senior military and security officials, policymakers, academics and strategic partners, including the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission and Troop Contributing Countries. The Forum is expected to generate actionable recommendations for strengthening the MNJTF and enhancing collective security across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.