Tinubu Urges ECOWAS Leaders To Establish Regional Standby Force Amid Rising Security Challenges

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to establish and maintain a regional standby force for the security and economic progress of the community.

Speaking at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja on Sunday, Tinubu, the chairman of the regional bloc, said that there was a need for such a force, amid the increasing security challenges.

"The Regional Action Plan against Terrorism has enhanced cooperation on training, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian interventions. In addition to this, the Ministers of Finance and Defence met recently in Abuja to raise funds for activating the ECOWAS Standby Force to boost counter-terrorism efforts," the president said, as per the official State House website.

"Member countries are also displaying their commitment to combating insecurity by individually increasing their defense budgets to acquire necessary equipment and ensure preparedness."

Tinubu called on member states to increase their commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure the region's security, emphasizing the importance of peace and security in unlocking Africa's potential.

Highlighting the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, Tinubu stressed the need for strong political will and substantial financial resources for the plan to succeed.

He advised the ECOWAS management to reduce its overhead expenditures and focus on programs and activities that directly impact citizens. The Nigerian president also urged ECOWAS leaders to follow the recommendations of their Ministers of Defence and Finance to address insecurity and promote stability in the region.

He also suggested that leveraging Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), recognized as one of the continent's best, could enhance regional capabilities.

"Difficult economic conditions and inconsistent payment of financial commitments to ECOWAS have contributed to the current plight. To ensure ECOWAS has adequate resources for its programs and activities, I urge all member states to ensure full compliance with the Protocol on the Community Levy," he said.

He went on to share that Nigeria under his leadership was committed to leading by example in remitting its collected levies to the organization.