President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed concern over the slow progress in operationalising the ECOWAS Standby Force, calling on West African leaders to urgently move from “concept to reality” in the region’s collective fight against terrorism and transnational crime.
The Nigerian leader issued the call on Sunday during his opening remarks at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Abuja.
The summit marked one of his final engagements as chairman of the regional bloc.
Tinubu’s concern was contained in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, June 22.
The statement partly reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep concern over the slow pace of activating the ECOWAS Standby Force and urged West African leaders to move swiftly from concept to reality in the collective fight against terrorism and transnational crimes.
“President Tinubu raised the concern in his opening speech at the 67th ECOWAS Authority’s Ordinary Session in Abuja, one of his last acts as chairman of the 50-year-old regional economic bloc.
“The Nigerian leader emphasised the urgency of operationalising the force in the face of escalating insecurity across the sub-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,” the President said.
” ‘The Nigerian leader noted that threats confronting the region are transnational, driven by agile and dangerous networks that respect nobody’s border.”
” ‘No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure it,’ he added.
“President Tinubu highlighted major milestones during his leadership of the regional bloc.
“He said the completed ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, will play a critical role in providing equipment and other logistics to forces deployed by ECOWAS.
” ‘Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union. With the depot’s completion, Nigeria is committing itself to sea-lift and air-lift arrangements with ECOWAS,’ he said.
“President Tinubu expressed the hope that ongoing diplomatic engagements with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will eventually lead to their return to the community.
” ‘Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family’, he said.
“The Nigerian leader called for deeper economic cooperation, empowering the private sector, and removing trade barriers to unlock West Africa’s potential.”
