President Bola Tinubu, as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has urged member states to fund a $2.4 billion regional standby force to combat terrorism and ensure stability in West Africa.
Tinubu made the appeal during the 65th ordinary session of the ECOWAS heads of state and government held in Abuja on Sunday. He emphasized the necessity of a standby force in light of increasing security threats in the region.
“A peaceful and secure society is essential for achieving our potential. Operationalizing the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) to combat terrorism requires strong political will and substantial financial resources. We must meet the expectations and recommendations set by our Ministers of Defence and Finance to counter insecurity and stabilize our region,” Tinubu stated.
The $2.4 billion fund, initially announced by ECOWAS in May, aims to establish a counter-terrorism force capable of rapid deployment across West Africa. This initiative follows Tinubu’s earlier call for a regional standby force during the African high-level counter-terrorism meeting in April, where he labeled terrorism an “imported evil” needing swift and coordinated action.
Tinubu called on member states to adhere to the Protocol on the Community Levy to ensure adequate resources for ECOWAS programs and activities. He highlighted the enhanced cooperation on training, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian interventions under the Regional Action Plan against Terrorism.
The Nigerian leader announced that Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) would be made available as a regional resource for all ECOWAS member states. He also urged institutional reforms within ECOWAS, calling for reduced operational costs and a focus on programs directly impacting citizens’ lives.
During the session, President Tinubu welcomed Senegal’s new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, praising the recent presidential election as a testament to the region’s commitment to democratic principles.
The meeting also addressed the challenges posed by the recent exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS. ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray discussed the potential impacts on citizens and regional agreements.