ECOWAS Chairman: We’re Ready to Combat Terrorism in West Coast

* Says no problem raising funds to fight terrorism, other forms of insecurity

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Nigeria’s President and Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Tinubu, has declared that the security challenges facing the West coast has been thoroughly reviewed and a properly-funded strategy will be instituted to tackle terrorism.

President Tinubu made the disclosure about a new approach by ECOWAS leaders to tackle security with more measurable results, after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday with Presidents of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon; Guinea-Bissau, Umaru Sissoco Embalo; and Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, at the State House.

Responding to a question on how the ECOWAS Commission hoped to fund its avowed campaign against terrorism and other forms of insecurity within its region, President Tinubu said the countries within the community have the means and wherewithal to fight the menace out of their region. 

‘‘We have no problems raising funds. We believe we have the instruments to do that. We believe we are capable of raising necessary funds to combat terrorism in the sub-region,’’ the president told newsmen after the meeting.

President Tinubu noted that the West African leaders had extensive deliberations on sustaining democracy on the West coast and fashioning out the framework for confronting security.

The four West African leaders, during their meeting, also reviewed the political and security situations within the sub-region, especially the political transition issues in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, as well as the security concerns across the entire region.

Speaking to newsmen on the resolutions reached during the meeting after the meeting, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, disclosed that  President Talon of Benin would soon embark on a mission to the three West African countries, on behalf of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

He said: “Regarding the political situation in the sub-region, the leaders have reviewed the transition in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Regarding the transition in those three countries, the leaders have taken the decision to re-engage the three countries at the highest level. 

“A member of the Troika, in the person of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Benin, will undertake a mission to these three countries on behalf of the heads of state. That mission will be undertaken shortly. 

“The leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the expeditious transition to democracy in each of the three countries. The transition must be in accordance with ECOWAS protocols and in accordance with their individual transition charters.

“ECOWAS has resolved to support a credible and inclusive transition in each of the three countries.”

On security, Touray disclosed that the resolution include “to provide a robust regional response to any threat to security in the region”. 

“The regional response shall include the operationalization of the ECOWAS Plan of Action with the region’s own troops and region’s own financing. Financing from other partners will be welcomed. 

“The security response shall also include support to the individual member states of the region. The response shall also include the use of specific arrangement, such as specific models of peace and security. Adequate resources will be provided to the region’s response to peace and security,” he said.