Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has reaffirmed the military’s readiness and determination to ensure the full security of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, region.

Musa, who serves as Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence of ECOWAS, gave the assurance at the closing of the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the committee on Thursday in Abuja.

He stated that the three-day meeting was aimed at promoting regional security cooperation within the ECOWAS region and forging a united front to address security challenges.

According to him, discussions were sincere and forthright, with collective security given the necessary priority.

“In the course of our deliberations, we identified critical vulnerabilities to regional security and demonstrated our firm resolve to addressing these threats.

“As expected, there were areas of concern among members, but more importantly, there was a firm resolve on the need for collective action.

“This is the spirit of this gathering, which is firmly rooted in a resolute commitment to meeting our primary obligation as members of the armed and defence forces of our respective countries—defending and protecting our people from harm and insecurity,” he said.

Musa stated that the committee deliberated on key security concerns in the West African subregion.

Some of these included the review of pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force, consideration of pledges for the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorist Brigade, and the rotation of staff officers of Peace Support Operation Divisions and the ECOWAS Standby Force.

Additionally, discussions covered the outcome of the Governmental Experts Meeting on the ECOWAS Logistics Concept and Standing Operating Procedures for the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone.

Musa further noted that the meeting provided an opportunity to review the report from the last ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Naval Staff Meeting.

A presentation was also made on the standardisation of the Table of Equipment for the ECOWAS Standby Force.

ECOWAS Defence Chiefs ready to secure region