Boko Haram: France Promises Military, Intelligence Support

The announcement was made after a closed-door bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the Elysee Palace in Paris‎.

Hollande also announced France’s plans to invest a total of €130million in the development of infrastructure in Nigeria for rebuilding of roads, provision of electricity and water supply.

The French President who said that the increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria and the entire West Africa was a concern to his government, added that he is ready to render support in tackling extremism.

Hollande said he and President Buhari discussed new strategies of partnership that would enable Nigeria and its neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic through the joint action of the MJTF to fight the insurgency and restore peace.

He also recalled his country’s intervention approach to the insurgency fight, started with France hosting a Regional Summit on Security in Paris which brought together the neighboring countries to chat the way forward last year.

In his response, Buhari thanked the French government for his government’s interest in assisting Nigeria.

He noted that with commitment from France, Nigeria’s next shopping list regarding support will move to other members of the G7.

Buhari said, “We have to depend on France and the other G7 countries for support to fight piracy

“Our next shopping list is going to G7in terms of intelligence and training. Another problem is the problem in the Gulf of Guinea, from Senegal to Angola, that area is endowed with resources like petroleum and other minerals but surrounded by piracy and theft.

“We are going to depend on France and G7 countries to flush these criminals out of the region.”

Also discussed was a Memorandum of Understanding on how to build a €30 million 10 to 14 megawatts solar power plant in a rural local government in Osun State.