When we entered the 21st century Nigeria, the largest country in Africa was showing signs of coming into its own in the new century. With GDP expansion averaging over 6 percent in 2000 to 2013, the economy become Africa's largest. In the process, it had graduated

to the World's Bank's list of lower middle-income countries, with a GDP per capita (in terms of purchasing power) above $7,000. The world's economic forum was to be hosted in Abuja. The first and only time a developing country will be hosting the worlds most powerful economies

The outbreak of the Boko Haram insurgency not only stopped Nigeria's upward trajectory, it reversed gains made over the years. We went from world's happiest people to worlds most terrorized. Fastest growing economy to poverty capital. This is what a decade of conflict

does to a country's development. The resiliency of Nigerians has been our saving grace. Libya fared far worse. The powers that be have a hard time understanding why Nigeria still stands as an entity. It defied the CIA predicted Nigeria will cease

..to exist by 2015. The country has been wrecked with the worse security challenges since the civil war. During the 2015 the United States was 100% surr electoral violence was innevitable. France 24 did a Special on the impending war.

Forty eight hours to election day three U.S Marines VSP- Osprey landed in Accra's airport in Ghana, with 300 U.S Marines. Their task was to move into Nigeria and evacuate foreigners when violence erupts. Yes they were that confident on what the CIA predicted.

Well..not only did electoral violence not materialize, it became the freest and fairest election in Nigeria's history. It also marked the first peaceful transfer of power in our history. As if this was not terrible enough news for the powers that be,

the Nigerian Army did what the CIA predicted will take 5 years to accomplished, took back all lost territories from Boko Haram and captured Camp Zairo. This was an intelligence failure for them. Three times the CIA had made damming predictions about Nigeria,

..three times the prediction failed .This, and revelations of secret Chinese sale of drones to Nigeria rang alarm bells in Washington and Paris. You can understand their desire to figure out what the hell is going on. Then the bizzare $2 billion request by President Obama

from Congress for the construction of bases in Niger, Chad and Cameroon 2 weeks after the fall of Sambisa. Not when the Chibok girls were kidnapped. Not when Boko haram was terrorising Nigerians. While American caterpillars were constructing tarmacs for a new air base

Nigerian caterpillars were busy clearing the Sambisa to give way for the construction of a shooting range and sporting complex for the Nigerian army to hold sporting events.

..well the rest is history.

The army was even lucky to hold one sporting event. The moment

those drone bases in Niger, Cameroon and Chad became operational Boko Haram staged a spectacular comback. It didnt take long for ISIS to traverse the Sahel to Mali, Niger and into Northern Nigeria "UNDETECTED" by the myriad of U.S drone bases to setup its West Africa affiliate.

They stopped using the term Boko Haram all together, adopting the term ISWAP. However that is history. History I hope the Nigerian government will learn from.

The Nigerian military is back stronger and better equipped with a new found resolve.

When Chadian forces and their French overlords executed a public relations coup against Nigeria, when Chad lied about holding Nigerian territory and called the media to embarrass Nigeria,..

yapping away to the New York Times and France 24

QUOTE

My men are stuck, still awaiting any sign of Nigerian forces to come take over. Chad does not want to be holding Nigerian territory. We wants to be on the move. My troops occupy some Nigerian which ordinary should be

manned by Nigerian troops. They are slowing the war effort down. We want the Nigerians to come and occupy, so we can advance. We're wasting time, for the benefit of Boko Haram. We cant go any further in Nigeria. We are not an army of occupation.

END OF QUOTE

- Idris Derby

Oh...and by the way he was making these statements at his presidential palace. Abuja largely maintained strategic silence. However there is only so much Nigeria can tolerate. Nigerias Defence headquarters gave a strongly worded rebuttal and said child cannot take glory

However there is only so much Nigeria can tolerate. The Defence Headquarters gave a strongly worded rebuttal and said Chad cannot take glory for Nigeria's gallantry and contributions in the ongoing war against insurgency.

Nigeria was largely maintaining strategic silence. It was not yet strong enough to potentially confront a franco-Chadian alliance in defence of its territory and refused to be goarded into a tit for tat diplomatic spat.

NOT ANYMORE

Nigeria has discarded the policy strategic silence because it now has a force powerful enough back it up. Last week Nigeria announced it will resume oil exploration in the Lake Chad basin. Yesterday the army spokesman said Boko Haram will not be allowed any escape route

anywhere in the region.

QUOTE

We will go after them even if they slip across the border into any neighbouring country. By our mandate, you can go in pursuit of insurgents and criminals for 25 kilometers without consultation and we will if we have to.

END OF QUOTE