President Bola Tinubu has called for the immediate deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to address escalating insecurity and political instability across West Africa. Speaking at the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of implementing the bloc’s defence and security mechanisms to combat threats like terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government, and other crises destabilizing the region.
Tinubu, who just handed over ECOWAS leadership to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, stressed that while diplomatic efforts remain crucial, the worsening security situation demands concrete military responses. He highlighted that the ECOWAS Standby Force must not only exist on paper but be fully operational and ready for action to safeguard peace, stability, and democratic values.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS initiatives and urged member states to contribute resources and political will to make the Standby Force effective. Tinubu also praised the bloc’s resilience but cautioned that delayed responses could worsen the plight of affected citizens, calling for a united front to confront the region’s challenges head-on
