The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, has urged ECOWAS Defence Ministers to unite and work together with determination to achieve a safer and more secure region.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Defence and Finance Ministers meeting in Abuja, Badaru emphasised the need for collective commitment to address terrorism, violent extremism and humanitarian challenges threatening the region’s unity and stability.
The meeting was aimed at providing actionable recommendations for financing and equipping the ECOWAS counter-terrorism forces, with a focus on crafting a sustainable financing model that addresses immediate security threats and lays the foundation for long-term stability and resilience.
The minister expressed Nigeria’s deep concern over the continued security challenges in the region, including terrorism, violent extremism and humanitarian crises.
He noted that several attempts had been made to address these challenges, including the instruction by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force.
The minister charged his colleagues to fine-tune the recommendations and develop a robust solution to the region’s security problems. He emphasised the need for a critical review of financing options, considering the current challenges and financial constraints facing member states.
“We must work together with determination and unity of purpose to achieve a safer and more secure ECOWAS region,” he noted. Badaru stressed that the region’s collective commitment was vital to crafting a sustainable financing model that would address the immediate security threats and lay the foundation for long-term stability and resilience in our region.
