Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Wednesday called on the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to strengthen their security cooperation in order to enhance regional defence capabilities against any security threat.
Badaru spoke at the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff which started on Wednesday in Abuja. It is being attended by top military leaders from the West African sub-region in order to address member-States pressing security concerns.
The Minister emphasized the significance of collective efforts in combating terrorism, cross-border crimes, and hybrid threats, stressing the need for enhanced regional security cooperation to safeguard nations and promote sustainable development.
According to him, the meeting will focus on critical issues, including the proposed ECOWAS Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone, ongoing peace operations, and the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
The Minister encouraged open dialogue, shared expertise, and collaborative solutions to strengthen security cooperation and enhance regional defence capabilities.
While he reaffirmed the commitment to achieving peace and security in West Africa, the Minister said the security landscape of West Africa is presently marked by both complex challenges and called for joint efforts towards countering terrorism, managing cross- border crimes amongst others in the region.