- Tinubu Worried About Delay in ECOWAS Force Deployment
- Tinubu emphasized the urgent need to activate the force amid escalating security threats across the West African region.
- Tinubu confidence that the ongoing diplomatic initiatives
President Bola Tinubu has voiced concern over the delayed deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force, calling on West African leaders to accelerate efforts in the joint fight against terrorism and transnational crime.
Eko Hot Blog reports that he made this appeal during his opening remarks at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Abuja.
EDITOR’S PICK
- CWO Welcomes New Members, Children Receive Christ
- Tinubu Condoles With Victims of Borno Attack, Kano Blast
- Container Truck Rams Minibus in Lagos, Driver Killed
The meeting is among his final engagements as chairman of the 50-year-old regional economic community.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu emphasized the urgent need to activate the force amid escalating security threats across the West African region.
“The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality. I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired,” Tinubu said.
He pointed out that the region is facing transnational threats, driven by agile and dangerous networks that operate across borders without regard for national sovereignty.
“No single nation can address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and adopt a collective approach to ensure our security,” he added.
Reflecting on his time in office, Tinubu outlined notable accomplishments, including the completion of the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone. He emphasized that the facility would serve as a vital asset in facilitating the deployment of ECOWAS forces.
“Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union. With the depot now completed, Nigeria is committed to providing sea-lift and air-lift logistics for ECOWAS operations,” he stated.
The President further expressed confidence that the ongoing diplomatic initiatives with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would ultimately result in their reintegration into the ECOWAS bloc.
“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that, before long, they will return to the ECOWAS family,” he said.
President Tinubu advocated for stronger regional economic integration, emphasizing the need to empower the private sector and eliminate trade barriers to fully harness the sub-region’s potential.
“Our intra-regional trade remains low, despite the vast potential. We must create an enabling environment, empower the private sector, and foster the conditions necessary for innovation and growth,” he said.
He also called for the swift execution of major regional infrastructure projects, such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the West African Power Pool, and the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway, describing them as essential drivers of development and deeper regional integration.
