President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern over the slow pace of activating the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Standby Force.
He urged West African leaders to move decisively from planning to implementation in the fight against terrorism and transnational crime.
He spoke at the opening of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
Mr Tinubu, in one of his final engagements as chairman of the 50-year-old regional bloc, emphasised the urgent need to operationalise the force amid growing insecurity in the region.
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“The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality. I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired,” he said.
Mr Tinubu stressed that the threats facing West Africa are cross-border in nature and orchestrated by complex and ruthless networks that do not respect national boundaries.
He called for greater political will, improved coordination, and a unified strategy to ensure regional security.
“No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure it,” he added.
Highlighting achievements during his tenure, Mr Tinubu pointed to the completed ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which he said will provide essential support to regional military operations.
He also noted that Nigeria has committed to sea-lift and air-lift logistics for ECOWAS following the signing of the Sixth Agreement with the African Union earlier this year in Addis Ababa.
The President expressed optimism that continued diplomatic efforts with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries that had withdrawn from ECOWAS—could lead to their eventual return.
“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” he stated.
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Mr Tinubu also called for greater economic integration in the region, urging leaders to remove trade barriers, empower the private sector, and implement major infrastructure projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the West African Power Pool, and the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway.
“Our intra-regional trade remains low, even as we possess the potential to be an economic powerhouse. We must create the enabling environment, empower the private sector, and create the conditions necessary for innovation to flourish,” he said.
