Nigerian Defence Minister, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, has called for improved joint efforts towards countering terrorism, addressing cross-border crimes and other hybrid threats within the West African sub-region. Badaru pushed the call at the beginning of the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja.
He also urged member states of ECOWAS to work towards improving transparency in safeguarding their nations and encouraging sustainable development. Badaru said the conference would provide a crucial platform to manage the collective security challenges facing the West African territory and to strategise on the best approaches to ensure stability and stability. According to him, the security terrain of West Africa is presently marked by both difficult challenges and opportunities for cooperation.
“Accordingly, joint steps towards countering terrorism, managing cross border offences, hybrid threats, as well as improving transparency are vital to subguarding our nations and encouraging sustainable development. Therefore, this meeting is quite apt considering the world’s security paradigms and the emerging threats that encounter us. You will all agree with me that we are currently confronted with various levels of security threats in our daily lives which require consultation and unified answers. With this in mind, it becomes clear that it is only through our collective strengths and shared expertise that we can effectively address those issues and work towards lasting solutions,’’ he said.
The minister stated that countries must continue to assume greater collaboration, share vital intelligence and harmonise their strategies to address the common threats. He declared that the ability of the nations to work as a cohesive and responsive force was essential for supporting regional stability. We must and should also cooperate with our partners to leverage their expertise, resources and intelligence in our actions to tackle those threats. Consequently, I encourage us all to encounter open and consulting guidelines, and share our adventures and insight through performing together towards innovative solutions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar expressed the meeting was a further testament to the collaborative and resolute commitment of ECOWAS to the peace, security and stability of the area. Tuggar said that the armed forces played critical roles in developing new strategies and corresponding regional security, ensuring peace, stability and practical responses to emerging threats.
He encouraged them to deeply reflect on the rapidly evolving problematic security situation, ranging from violence, terrorism and insurgency to methodical crime and piracy. He said that the recent unconstitutional changes in administration had revealed the fragile nature of democratic institutions and the speed for robust and coordinated responses. “As such, the success of this force is essential for our region to effectively address the current political challenges. The illegal movement of small arms and light weapons in our area has reached alarming levels.
