The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has emphasised the need for ECOWAS Defence Ministers to unite and work together with determination to achieve a safer and more secured region.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Defence and Finance Ministers’ meeting in Abuja, Badaru called for collective commitment to address terrorism, violent extremism, and humanitarian challenges threatening the region’s unity and stability.
According to a statement by the Director, information Henshaw Ogubike issued on Friday in Abuja, the Minister expressed Nigeria’s deep concern over the continued security challenges in the region, including terrorism, violent extremism, and humanitarian crises. He noted that several attempts have been made to address these challenges, including the instruction by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force.
Badaru, charged his colleagues to fine-tune the recommendations and develop a robust solution to the region’s security problems. He emphasized the need for a critical review of financing options, considering the current challenges and financial constraints facing member states.
“We must work together with determination and unity of purpose to achieve a safer and more secure ECOWAS region,” He said that the region’s collective commitment is vital in crafting a sustainable financing model that will address the immediate security threats and lays the foundation for long-term stability and resilience in our region.
The meeting of the ECOWAS Defence Ministers is aimed to provide actionable recommendations for financing and equipping the region counter-terrorism forces, with a focus on crafting a sustainable financing model that addresses immediate security threats and lays the foundation for long-term stability and resilience.
