Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to regional security, urging member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to set aside political differences and strengthen collective efforts against terrorism and other security threats in West Africa.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, gave the assurance when the outgoing and incoming Chairmen of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS), Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura of Sierra Leone and Vice Admiral Oumar Wade of Senegal, paid him a courtesy visit at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The outgoing chairman, Lieutenant General Bangura, expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s sustained support for the committee and the wider West African security architecture during his tenure.
He commended Nigeria’s contributions to peacekeeping, counter-terrorism cooperation and regional stability, particularly its support for Sierra Leone during the civil war and subsequent peace consolidation efforts.
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Bangura, who said the two military chiefs had spent the previous two days conducting formal handover activities, appealed to Oluyede to extend similar support to his successor to sustain regional security cooperation.
The incoming chairman, Vice Admiral Wade, acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa and sought its continued support, guidance and active participation to enable the committee fulfil its mandate.
Wade identified terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and maritime insecurity as major threats confronting the ECOWAS region, stressing the need for stronger cooperation among member states.
Responding, Oluyede described the visit as a demonstration of solidarity and shared purpose, calling for greater unity, cohesion and brotherhood among ECOWAS countries to address common security challenges.
He stressed that member states must set aside political differences and bilateral disputes in the collective interest of regional peace and stability, noting that no country could effectively secure itself in isolation.
The CDS assured the incoming chairman of Nigeria’s full support for a successful tenure, reiterating the country’s commitment to strengthening ECOWAS collective security mechanisms.
