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By Stella Odueme
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has expressed its readiness to strengthen security cooperation with the Defence Headquarters to address emerging security challenges across the West African sub-region.
The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Anthony Oluwatosin Ogunjimi, made this known on Thursday during a familiarisation visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede.
Ogunjimi commended the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) for its contributions to regional peace, security and stability, particularly through peace support and stabilisation operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
According to a statement by the the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, he described Nigeria's commitment to collective security as a major pillar of ECOWAS' regional integration and stability efforts.
The ECOWAS Vice President also expressed the Commission's interest in deepening its institutional relationship with the Defence Headquarters through strategic engagement, security cooperation and joint initiatives to tackle emerging threats in the region.
Responding, Oluyede stressed the need for sustained partnerships and collective responsibility among ECOWAS member states to address the complex security challenges confronting West Africa.
He noted that effective regional security required cooperation, mutual trust and a shared commitment, adding that threats across the sub-region transcended national boundaries and demanded coordinated responses.
The CDS urged member states to strengthen military-to-military relationships, improve intelligence sharing and enhance operational cooperation in pursuit of regional security objectives.
He reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria's commitment to supporting peace and stability across West Africa in line with Nigeria's foreign policy objectives and longstanding commitment to collective security.
The visit further reinforced the strategic relationship between the ECOWAS Commission and the Defence Headquarters.