President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has called on member states to commit to funding a $2.4 billion regional standby force aimed at combating terrorism and ensuring stability in the region.
The appeal came during the 65th ordinary session of the authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government held in Abuja on Sunday.
Addressing the leaders, Tinubu stressed the importance of a standby force in the face of growing security threats across West Africa.
“Let me underscore that a peaceful and secure society is essential for achieving our potential. As we move to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasize that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources.
“We must, therefore, ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our Ministers of Defence and Finance, in order to counter insecurity and stabilize our region,’’ said the Nigerian leader.
The proposed $2.4 billion fund, initially announced by ECOWAS in May, is intended to establish a counter-terrorism force capable of rapid deployment across the region.
The initiative builds on President Tinubu’s earlier call for a regional standby force during the African high-level counter-terrorism meeting in April, where he described terrorism as an “imported evil” requiring swift and coordinated response.
Tinubu urged member states to meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by ECOWAS leaders, who recently met in Abuja to discuss funding strategies for the standby force.
He also called for full compliance with the Protocol on the Community Levy to ensure adequate resources for ECOWAS programs and activities.
“The Regional Action Plan against Terrorism has enhanced cooperation on training, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian interventions. In addition to this, the Ministers of Finance and Defence met recently in Abuja to raise funds for activating the ECOWAS Standby Force to boost counter-terrorism efforts.
“Member countries are also displaying their commitment to combating insecurity by individually increasing their defence budgets in order to acquire necessary equipment and ensure preparedness,’’ the president said.
As part of efforts to enhance regional counter-terrorism capabilities, Tinubu announced that Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) would be made available as a regional resource for all ECOWAS member states.
The ECOWAS chairman also addressed the need for institutional reforms within the organization, calling on the ECOWAS Commission to reduce operational costs and focus on programmes that directly impact citizens’ lives.
During the session, President Tinubu welcomed Senegal’s new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, commending the country’s recent presidential election as a testament to the region’s commitment to democratic principles.
The meeting also touched on the challenges posed by the recent exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, with the Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, noting the potential impacts on citizens and regional agreements.
Standby Force: Tinubu Demands ECOWAS Leaders’ Commitment To $2.4bn Regional Security Fund is first published on The Whistler Newspaper