President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that there is urgent need for quick and concerted actions to curb the threat to the peace of the West African sub-region by terrorism which he noted has reached an alarming.
Tinubu spoke n Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau after he was unanimously elected the chairman of the 16-nation Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of States/Governments of the sub-region.
The meeting was the first attended by Tinubu as Nigerian leader.
Dele Alake, the spokesperson to the President quoted him in a statement as noting that insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the region.
The Nigerian President therefore called for collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonised to actualise the dreams of ECOWAS.
“On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges.
“Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive.
“In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,” he declared.
President Tinubu noted that ECOWAS had developed a security architecture, which he noted, “covers a wide range of areas that involved kinetic and non-kinetic operations, including preventive diplomacy”.
He added: “There is also the Regional Plan of Action on Fight against Terrorism 2020-2024 as well as the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force on Fight Against Terrorism.
“I will ensure that we immediately harmonize these plans and mobilise resources as well as the political will towards the actualisation of the initiatives.
“As terrorists do not respect boundaries, we must work collectively to have an effective regional counterterrorism measure.”
On his emergence as Chairman on his first participation at the summit, having just started as the elected leader of Nigeria, President Tinubu stated that he was humbled and honoured by the trust to assume the leadership of the regional body, pledging his commitment to serve the interest of the community.
He said: “Indeed, I’m humbled and honoured by this trust, and want to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to provide the necessary leadership with dedication to serve the interest of the community.”
To underscore his commitment towards regional integration, the Nigerian President declared that he would prioritise political stability, peace and security, regional economic integration and strengthening of the ECOWAS institutions, declaring that democracy and good governance remain the abiding cornerstone of peace and sustainable development.
He appreciated the Authority of Heads of State and citizens of the Community for trusting him to lead the West African body.
President Tinubu said: “Your Excellencies, let me conclude by once again deeply appreciating the Authority of Heads of State and the citizens of the Community for your trust in me. Together, we can shape a brighter future of shared values of peace, democracy, and economic prosperity in our region.”
