The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government and Nigerian President, Chief Bola Tinubu, has urged member states of the region to tackle the worrisome security issues in the region.
Speaking at the 65th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, President Tinubu stressed the need for member states to fulfil their financial commitments in order to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and combat terrorism, banditry and violent extremism.
The Nigeria President, whose one-year tenure has been extended for another year as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, urged member states to honour their financial obligations to enable ECOWAS to meet the expectations and recommendations of its ministers of Defense and Finance.
According to him, fulfilling these commitments will help stabilize the region and counter insecurity and demonstrate their dedication to regional security and cooperation, enabling the community to better address the security challenges facing West Africa.
“Let me underscore that a peaceful and secure society is essential for achieving our potentials, move to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasise that the success of this plan requires, not only strong political will, but also substantial financial resources.
“We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of Defense and Finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region. Member states must make extra commitment on providing resources for stabilizing the region.
“To this end, I urge ECOWAS to leverage on the capability of the Nigeria National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), which is widely acknowledge as one of the best on the continent.
“The Nigerian government has decided to declare the NCTC as a regional centre to enable all ECOWAS member states benefit from capacity building and other related opportunities it offers.
“Your excellencies, dear heads of state, I urge those of you with time to visit the centre before your departure and assess first-hand on the facilities and the capabilities of NCTC,” local media reports quoted President Tinubu as saying.
The Nigerian President also urged ECOWAS member states to unite and develop innovative approaches to unlock the region’s economic potential and promote prosperity.
He acknowledged the economic hurdles hindering progress and stressed the need for partnerships, investment, and infrastructure development.
He also emphasized the importance of a conducive business environment to stimulate growth and build resilience against external shocks.
GIK/APA
ECOWAS Chairman urges member states to tackle regional security issues
