Nigeria has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to bolster regional cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational crimes, while maintaining dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to tackle shared security and governance issues.
The appeal was delivered by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, during the 56th Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, held on Wednesday in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Enikanolaiye emphasized Nigeria’s ongoing leadership in advancing peace, security, and democratic governance throughout West Africa.
On financial matters, the minister urged all member states to fulfill their obligations by promptly paying the ECOWAS Community Levy, which he described as the critical “motherload” for the organization’s effective operations. He highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to meeting its contributions despite domestic economic pressures.
Regarding regional security, Enikanolaiye stressed the importance of a more robust, collective ECOWAS response to rising threats including terrorism, piracy, banditry, and organized crime. He advocated for member states to confront these challenges “from a position of strength and crushing lethality.”
The minister pointed to Nigeria’s recent successes through intensified military operations and better coordination among security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies. These efforts, he said, have resulted in the rescue of kidnapped victims, arrests of suspects, and enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
On governance and democracy, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to credible elections. He noted that preparations for the 2027 general elections are already in progress and invited ECOWAS members and international observers to monitor the process, stating that Nigeria has “nothing to hide.” He also cited the country’s unbroken record of democratic transitions since 1999.
The minister additionally condemned the surge in Afrophobic violence in South Africa targeting other African nationals, calling the attacks “most despicable.” He reminded the council of Nigeria’s historical support for the anti-apartheid struggle and urged ECOWAS to issue a strong statement on the matter for submission to the African Union.
Finally, Enikanolaiye advocated for continued engagement with the Alliance of Sahelian States (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger), as well as Guinea-Bissau. He called for innovative strategies to foster dialogue and inclusive approaches aimed at strengthening democracy, peace, stability, and development across the region amid evolving geopolitical realities.
This position reflects Nigeria’s push for regional solidarity in addressing pressing security threats while bridging divides with the Sahel states.
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