President Muhammadu Buhari has informed African Presidents that Nigeria must stay in command of West African task force being set up to tackle Boko haram insurgency.

 BBC reports that speaking at a summit of regional leaders in Abuja, President Buhari rejected proposals to rotate leadership of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) every six months between the five countries involved - Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin.

The President argued that military operations that are subjected to rapid change of command and control structures would not be efficient" .

He said, ''While I agree that this is a joint operation with shared responsibilities, I am, however, of the opinion that military operations that are subjected to rapid turnover of command and control structures, six months duration, as it is being proposed in the documents before us do not augur well for effectiveness and efficiency.

''Such a process will undermine, even if it not intended, the military capacity to sustain the push against the insurgents who also have the uncanny ability to adapt and rejig their operational strategies.

''I am inclined, on account of the above, to suggest for your excellencies consideration that Nigeria retains the position of the Force Commander of the MNJTF for the period of the war effort. This command will be to the effectiveness of military strategy since Nigeria will be providing the bulk of the troops and the main theatre of the war is on Nigerian soil''.

''Nigeria has already pledged the sum of $100m for the smooth takeoff of the MJTF. I hereby reassure you that my government will keep faith with this promise'', President Buhari added.