Nigeria's Defence Chief heads ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) – Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, on Wednesday took over the leadership of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, the umbrella body of Defence Chiefs in the West African sub-region.
General Olonisakin assumed leadership of the Committee at the 39th ordinary meeting of the body taking place in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
He called for intensification of intelligence gathering, joint and combined operations in order to combat the security threats currently plaguing the ECOWAS region.
He said collective efforts by each member state as well as collaboration with other stakeholders and partners in the pursuit of collective security and economic development will ensure peace and stability in the region through the platform provided by ECOWAS.
Listing the threats ranging from insurgency, terrorism to piracy, human and drugs trafficking, oil theft and other vices at sea, he said these security threats have been exacerbated by the proliferation of small arms, and light weapons occasioned by the numerous porous borders within the sub-region.
General Olonisakin disclosed that the acquisition of these weapons has emboldened the criminal elements in their nefarious activities.
“The growing trend of local terrorist organizations affiliated with and receiving support from well-known international terrorist organizations has also become very worrisome. This trend portends grave danger to our collective security.
"It is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security of our sub-region."
He said it is hoped that through this frequent interaction of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff and our political leaders, the collective efforts at ensuring peace and stability in our region will be fruitful.
While emphasising the need for more frequent interaction among the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, he described the ongoing meeting as “another ray of opportunity to interact and avail ourselves the information and collaboration needed to better the cause of ECOWAS region.”
The Permanent Secretary, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, called for more training for the troops to enhance their operational capability.
She enjoined the ECOWAS Standby Force to continue to support, cooperate and collaborate with the Nigerian military in the fight against terrorism and other vices facing the nation and the sub-region.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate past Chairman of the Committee represented by the Deputy CDS of Togo, Brigadier-General Adjitowou Colman thanked Nigeria for the support, hospitality and other efforts in helping to secure the sub-region.
Enumerating some of the achievements of the committee, he mentioned strides made in Liberia, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali among other countries within the sub-region saying “we are laying the foundation for our Standby Force to be able to have a better reaction in the event of security challenges”.
He asked for measures that will tame the terrorists hampering development in the region.
The Togolese military chief also called for field visits, exercises, more solidarity, joint actions and other efforts to monitor and evaluate the readiness of the troops. These, he said, will create stability in the region and resist the forces of evil from spreading.
The meeting will evaluate the security threats in the ECOWAS sub-region and the surrounding nations while reinforcing multilateral cooperation among member states.
-0- PANA MON/MA 20June2019
