Nigeria advocates enhanced regional security for peace and economic growth in ECOWAS parliament

Nigeria has urged for the reinforcement of regional security measures to ensure peace and foster economic development in West Africa. This call was made during the presentation of Nigeria’s Country Report at the 2023 Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

The report emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts among member countries to address security challenges using diverse approaches aimed at achieving stability in the region. Lynda Ikeazu, presenting the report on behalf of the Nigerian delegation, highlighted the importance of harmonizing the regional security agenda to pursue interconnected security objectives.

Recognizing the transnational nature of security threats, the report underscored the significance of prioritizing non-military peace efforts over an excessively militarized approach. The report noted that military strategies could unintentionally lead to prolonged armed conflicts across West Africa.

Referring to Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS, the report mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s active involvement in addressing regional security challenges. The report disclosed Tinubu’s engagement with leaders from Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin to discuss security concerns in the region during a meeting in Nigeria’s capital.

The Country Report revealed Tinubu’s commitment to prioritizing security within the ECOWAS agenda. It quoted Tinubu emphasizing that progress and development in the region would remain elusive without a peaceful environment.

Other ECOWAS member countries, including Cape Verde, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Gambia, also presented their reports, with a common focus on regional security.

Cape Verde expressed concerns about being a crossroads for transnational organized criminals and highlighted efforts to secure its borders, combat drug trafficking, and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to crime.

Senegal acknowledged political stability but emphasized challenges related to security, particularly along its borders with Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia in the Casamance region.

The Gambia reported relative calmness and peace, attributing its successes in the security sector, including the Security Sector Reform, to the protection of human rights and the prevention of fundamental human rights violations by security forces.

Additionally, the International Academy for Counter-Terrorism (AILCT) was mentioned in one of the reports for its contributions to training security and judicial personnel across countries on counter-terrorism and radicalization prevention.

All the reports were unanimously adopted during the session, presided over by ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Mr Sidie Tunis.

Credit: NAN