President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS, has urged member states to make financial commitments to support the fight against terrorism in the region.
This appeal was made during his opening remarks at the 65th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Sunday.
The summit, which began at 1 pm, brought together leaders from across the region to address pressing issues, including security challenges.
“As we move to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasise that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources,” Tinubu stated.
“We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region. Member states must make extra commitments on providing resources for stabilising the region.”
President Tinubu’s call highlights the critical need for increased financial support to effectively operationalise the ESF and address the growing threat of terrorism within the ECOWAS region.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, informed attendees of a proposal for a special extraordinary session to consider the future of the regional body.
This session aims to address long-term strategies and ensure the continued effectiveness of ECOWAS in promoting peace, stability, and development across West Africa.
The summit underscores the urgency of collective action and financial commitment from all member states to bolster regional security and combat terrorism effectively.