The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a dynamic and adaptive approach to regional policing to enhance peace and security across its member states.
This position was made known at the opening of the ECOWAS Police Focal Point Meeting in Abuja, where the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel Moussa, was represented by the Acting Head of ECOWAS Peace Operations Division, Dr Sani Adamu.
The meeting, which brought together stakeholders across the region, focused on progress, challenges, and strategies for deploying police officers under the ECOWAS Standby Force for peace support operations.
Dr Adamu stressed that modern policing must go beyond arms and strategy to include human capacity building and inter-agency collaboration.
“The rapidly changing nature of threats and conflicts necessitates a dynamic and adaptive approach to policing. This meeting, therefore, emphasises not only combat readiness but also cooperation, collaboration, and coordination amongst our police and gendarmerie with the view to preventing conflict and crime, respect for human rights, and post-conflict peacebuilding and rehabilitation,” he said.
He also noted the vital role of Training Centres of Excellence and other institutions in building a mission-ready police force.
“The presence of our Training Centres of Excellence and Training Institutions at this meeting today buttresses the fact that we cannot have a capable police component without adequate capacity building, which our TCEs and TIs offer,”he said.
Dr Adamu reiterated ECOWAS’ long-term commitment to strengthening regional peace and security architecture.
“ECOWAS stands as a testament to the importance of regional partnerships, bringing together nations under a shared vision of peace and security. Let us also consider the broader implications of this meeting. An effective ECOWAS Standby Force supports not just immediate crisis response but also long-term peacebuilding initiatives, creating the conditions necessary for economic development and social progress across our region. It is an investment in our future where our children can grow up in a world free from the fear of conflict,” he added.
Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs Committee and Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu, represented by Deputy IGP Sahr Senesi, said the workshop was timely and critical to the region’s collective security agenda.
“The threats confronting West Africa, be they armed conflict, terrorism, transnational crime, or political instability, demand unified, proactive, and professional responses. Within this context, the role of the police in peace support operations is increasingly central, bridging the gap between military stabilisation and long-term civilian governance and the rule of law,” he said.
He noted that rapid deployment of police remains a challenge and called for a standardised police roster.
“This is precisely why we are here — to begin the process of developing a reliable, standardised, and mission-ready police roster comprising vetted, trained, and deployable officers from all member states ready to respond swiftly when called upon. This will not only improve our capacity to contribute to ECOWAS-led PSOs but also promote interoperability, professionalism, and regional solidarity,” he said.
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, represented by Assistant Inspector General Chinedu Aniagboso, welcomed delegates and described the meeting as a platform to advance collective security objectives.
“I had looked forward to this meeting not just for the purpose of discussing its agenda, but to also establish contacts with old and perhaps new members of the Focal Point family as we collectively continue to chart the course for better security integration and stability across our various countries,” he said.
“I urge each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and help refine our policing strategy to ensure it meets the highest standards we set for ourselves. Our commitment today will pave the way for actionable strategies and tangible outcomes in the field,” he added.
Stakeholders at the meeting affirmed that enhanced dialogue, information sharing, and regional cooperation will lay a strong foundation for effective peace support operations across West Africa.
PIAK