President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of States and Government held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, VANGUARD reported.
Upon accepting his re-election, President Tinubu appointed the President of Senegal to assist in mediations with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.
In his address, he emphasized the importance of member states fulfilling their financial commitments to the regional body to effectively tackle security challenges.
President Tinubu highlighted the need for substantial financial resources to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and combat terrorism, banditry, and violent extremism.
As his one-year tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority is set to expire, he urged member states to honor their financial obligations, enabling ECOWAS to meet the expectations and recommendations of its ministers of defense and finance.
"Let me underscore that a peaceful and secure society is essential for achieving our potential. Moving to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources," President Tinubu stated.
He stressed the importance of meeting these commitments to stabilize the region and counter insecurity.
By fulfilling their financial obligations, ECOWAS member states will demonstrate their dedication to regional security and cooperation, allowing the community to better address the security challenges facing West Africa.
President Tinubu also proposed leveraging the capabilities of Nigeria's National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), which he described as one of the best on the continent.
He announced that the Nigerian government has declared the NCTC a regional center, enabling all ECOWAS member states to benefit from capacity building and other related opportunities.
"The Nigerian government has decided to declare the NCTC as a regional center to enable all ECOWAS member states to benefit from capacity building and other related opportunities it offers," Tinubu said.
He invited heads of state with time to visit the center and assess its facilities and capabilities firsthand.
Moreover, President Tinubu called on ECOWAS member states to unite and develop innovative approaches to unlock the region’s economic potential and promote prosperity.
He acknowledged the economic hurdles hindering progress and stressed the need for partnerships, investment, and infrastructure development.