Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Authority of Heads of State and Government and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, yesterday urged member states to fulfil their financial commitments to the regional body to effectively tackle security challenges.
Tinubu, who gave the charge at the 65th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS, said substantial financial resources were crucial to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force, ESF, and combat terrorism, banditry and violent extremism.
The President, whose one-year tenure as chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, expires tomorrow, urged member states to honour their financial obligations to enable ECOWAS meet the expectations and recommendations of its ministers of defense and finance.
He contended that fulfilling the commitments would help stabilize the region and counter insecurity, adding that by meeting their financial commitments, ECOWAS member states would demonstrate their dedication to regional security and cooperation, enabling the community to better address the security challenges facing the region.
Tinubu said, “To this end, I urge ECOWAS to leverage on the capability of the Nigeria National Counter Terrorism Center, NCTC, which is widely acknowledge as one of the best on the continent.
“The Nigerian government has decided to declare the NCTC as a regional centre to enable all ECOWAS member states benefit from capacity building and other related opportunities it offers.
“Your excellencies, dear heads of state, I urge those of you with time to visit the centre before your departure and assess first-hand the facilities and the capabilities of NCTC”.
He also urged ECOWAS member states to unite and develop innovative approaches to unlock the region’s economic potential and promote prosperity.
