Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
Emphasising the urgent need for a regional standby force, Tinubu urged ECOWAS member states to commit resources to enhance security and economic development in the region.
Tinubu highlighted the successes of the Regional Action Plan against Terrorism, citing enhanced training and intelligence sharing among member countries. Recently, the Ministers of Finance and Defence convened in Abuja to secure funding for the ECOWAS Standby Force, demonstrating member countries' commitment to combating insecurity.
He noted that individual member states have increased their defence budgets to acquire necessary equipment and ensure preparedness.
The Nigerian President stressed that a peaceful society is crucial to achieving the region's potential, and that operationalising the ECOWAS Standby Force requires both political will and substantial financial resources.
He encouraged ECOWAS leaders to leverage Nigeria's renowned National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), widely acknowledged as one of the best on the continent, to bolster counter-terrorism efforts.
Tinubu's re-election as ECOWAS Chairperson reaffirms Nigeria's leadership role in promoting regional security and economic integration. His call for a regional standby force resonates with the pressing need for collective action against growing security threats in the region. As ECOWAS member states move to operationalise the Standby Force, the President's emphasis on substantial financial resources and political will is crucial to achieving success.