The decision to send Nigerian troops to Mali is based on the need to insulate Nigeria from the activities of Islamist insurgents and curtail the current wave of terror threatening to engulf the sub-Saharan region.

President Goodluck Jonathan stated this in Geneva, Tuesday at a meeting with Nigerians living in the Swiss city, stating that Nigeria does not have any territorial ambition in the neighbouring Mali but to protect its citizens and ensure that terrorists being trained there and the weapons passing through the area never enter Nigeria.

"Nigeria has no territorial interest in Mali. Going to Mali does not mean that we are trying to extend our territorial control to the country. No. We believe that if we don't go there the war going on there will affect us," Jonathan explained.