The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is facing growing financial and operational pressure as countries in the Lake Chad Basin struggle to sustain the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Nigeria continues to provide a substantial share of the troops, equipment and funding supporting the regional operation, raising questions about how sustainable the arrangement will be without stronger contributions from other participating countries.
The MNJTF brings together Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin to combat cross-border terrorism and other security threats in the region.
Figures cited by The Guardian indicate that Nigeria provided about $209 million directly to the force between 2015 and 2021.
The European Union has also contributed approximately €234.4 million, alongside support from the United Kingdom and African Union.
The funding concerns come amid continuing insecurity across the Lake Chad region. UNHCR data cited in the report shows that security incidents increased significantly between January 2024 and April 2026, while millions of people remain displaced.
In Borno State, the Christian Association of Nigeria has also renewed calls for authorities to secure the release of 78 schoolchildren and others who have reportedly remained in captivity for more than 100 days.
Security experts quoted by The Empirical Magazine differed on the causes of the funding problem but agreed that military operations alone cannot resolve the wider crisis.
They pointed to the need for regional cooperation and attention to poverty, unemployment and limited access to education.