TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says the alliance of Boko Haram with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has enlarged the capacity of the sect.

Buhari said his administration was committed to tackling insecurity, confirming that Nigeria has released $21 million to the multi national joint task force to operationalise the force in the battle against insurgency.

He was speaking at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday during the occasion of the breaking of fast with members of the diplomatic corps.

“It is my pleasure to receive you all today as you join me for the customary practice whereby members of the diplomatic corps mark the lftar here at some point in the course of the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

“The significance of today’s event is deepened by the fact that this occasion is also my first meeting with members of the diplomatic corps since my assumption of office.

“At the regional level, I started the first week of my presidency with visits to the republics of Niger and Chad and I shall continue with a visit to Cameroun as part of our efforts to collaborate more closely with our partners in the Lake Chad Basin Commission to secure every inch of our territories.

“Only yesterday, we announced a re-jigging of our security architecture to ensure greater momentum. Already, we have released a first tranche of $21 million to operationalise our rejuvenated multi national joint task force, (MNJTF).

“Victory over terrorism in Nigeria is victory for every responsible member of the international community, because as the recent pledge of allegiance to ISIS shows Boko Haram has the capacity to enlarge the global linkage of terror, with negative consequences for international security and stability.

“We would thus welcome the cooperation, solidarity and support of your various countries in our efforts. We shall work tirelessly to re-establish and strengthen the relations subsisting between Nigeria and your various countries.

“A Nigeria that is able and willing to play her role in international stability and development.

“We believe that Nigeria’s stability and prosperity would positively impact on our neighbours and contribute to the opening up of Africa as the next frontier of global development.

“We would do all that is necessary domestically, to put us back on the right track.”