President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS leaders to establish a regional standby force to enhance security and economic growth. Speaking at the 65th ECOWAS Heads of State meeting in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the necessity of a standby force in countering rising security threats and urged member states to allocate resources for regional stability.
Tinubu highlighted recent initiatives, including a Regional Action Plan against Terrorism that improved cooperation on training and intelligence sharing. Finance and Defence Ministers have raised funds to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force, showing commitment to counter-terrorism. Tinubu stressed that the success of this plan depends on strong political will and substantial financial investment.
Additionally, Tinubu recommended leveraging Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre and urged ECOWAS to streamline its priorities and cut overheads. He called for full compliance with the Protocol on the Community Levy to ensure sufficient funding for ECOWAS activities, reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to contributing its share and reducing operational costs.