The Senate has approved the deployment of
1,200 Nigerian troops to join French forces that is currently staging an
onslaught against Islamist militia in Mali.
The Senate gave the approval on Thursday after deliberating behind closed doors for almost two hours.
President Goodluck Jonathan had written to the Senate requesting its consent to deploy troops to Mali on limited combat duties.
The approval is coming just as the President has asked for a more robust response to global terrorism.
He stated this while condemning Wednesday’s kidnapping of British, French and other foreign workers in eastern Algeria.
Citing the deployment of Nigeria’s troops to Mali as a sign of the country’s commitment to the war on terrorism, President Jonathan, who was meeting with the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, said Nigeria will continue to play a part in maintaining global peace.
ECOWAS Extraordinary Session
Also in a bid to further affirm what role ECOWAS will play in the Malian conflict, President Jonathan will on Friday, travel to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government ahead of the full deployment of the region’s troops to Mali.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr Reuben Abati, stated that President Jonathan will be accompanied to the meeting by the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim.
The meeting is also expected to discuss the situation in Guinea-Bissau.
President Jonathan will be back in Abuja on Saturday.
The Senate gave the approval on Thursday after deliberating behind closed doors for almost two hours.President Goodluck Jonathan had written to the Senate requesting its consent to deploy troops to Mali on limited combat duties.
The approval is coming just as the President has asked for a more robust response to global terrorism.
He stated this while condemning Wednesday’s kidnapping of British, French and other foreign workers in eastern Algeria.
Citing the deployment of Nigeria’s troops to Mali as a sign of the country’s commitment to the war on terrorism, President Jonathan, who was meeting with the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, said Nigeria will continue to play a part in maintaining global peace.
ECOWAS Extraordinary Session
Also in a bid to further affirm what role ECOWAS will play in the Malian conflict, President Jonathan will on Friday, travel to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government ahead of the full deployment of the region’s troops to Mali.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr Reuben Abati, stated that President Jonathan will be accompanied to the meeting by the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim.
The meeting is also expected to discuss the situation in Guinea-Bissau.
President Jonathan will be back in Abuja on Saturday.
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