Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has raised concerns over the slow pace in the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force—an initiative designed to respond to growing security threats across the region.
President Tinubu voiced his concerns during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
While handing over leadership to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who was named the new ECOWAS Chairman, Tinubu stressed that security challenges—including terrorism, violent extremism, and cross-border criminal networks—continue to hinder the bloc’s development aspirations.
“These threats are transitional and operate without regard for national boundaries,” Tinubu noted, urging the bloc to accelerate its collective security response mechanisms.
The ECOWAS Standby Force, composed of military, police, and civilian personnel, is intended to serve as a rapid response tool under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. Its delayed implementation has become a point of concern as instability continues to rise in parts of the region.
Highlighting his achievements during his two-year tenure, Tinubu reiterated the importance of promoting gender equality, calling for the mainstreaming of women in peacebuilding and development efforts across West Africa. “Women remain powerful agents of change and transformation,” he said.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, praised Tinubu’s leadership and paid tribute to the founding fathers of the regional body.
Also speaking at the summit, Leonardo Santos, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, urged member states to rebuild trust and deepen cooperation to effectively combat terrorism and strengthen peace across West Africa.
A key moment during the session was the symbolic transfer of leadership from President Tinubu to President Maada Bio, signaling a new phase for ECOWAS in its ongoing efforts to restore peace, democracy, and integration in the sub-region.
