Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged ECOWAS Defence Ministers to unite and work together with determination to achieve a safer and more secure region.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Defence and Finance Ministers’ meeting in Abuja, Badaru emphasized the need for collective commitment to address terrorism, violent extremism, and humanitarian challenges threatening the region’s unity and stability.
A statement by Ministry of Defence Director of Information and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, said that “the meeting aimed to provide actionable recommendations for financing and equipping the ECOWAS 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.”
At the meeting, Badaru 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.
The Minister 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.