The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are currently in a meeting at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting is being chaired by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
General Musa also doubles as chairman of the ECOWAS committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
The meeting will discuss regional security at a time the bloc is considering a the establishment of a force that will counter security challenges.
At the meeting are the Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Ahmed Lawan.
Others are the Chairman of House Committee of Defence, representative of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa and service chiefs, and the Chief of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries, except Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
General Christopher Musa Chief of Defence Staff Nigeria/Chairman ECOWAS Committee of Defence Chiefs said the presence of the defence chiefs indicates commitment to shared interest for peace in the region.
He added that the military must uphold democratic value.
General Musa noted that the complexity of the security landscape requires the sharing of intelligence across the region.
Top on the agenda of the meeting is the Activation of ECOWAS standby force against terrorism.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah stated that the 42nd ordinary meeting was delayed because of the political developments exemplified by coups in the region.
He added that this will allow the chiefs to review the implementation of the decisions taken at the previous meeting.
A road map for the activation of the ECOWAS standby force to counter terrorism will be discussed.
Earlier, ECOWAS called on the #EndBadGovernance protesters in Nigeria to heed President Bola Tinubu’s call for dialogue amidst the ongoing demonstrations.
ECOWAS, in a statement on Monday, expressed deep regret over reports of violence during the protests, leading to the unfortunate deaths of some protesters and incidents of looting and destruction of public and private properties.
“The Commission extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and sympathises with the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the losses,” the statement read.
Recognising the right of citizens to peaceful protests as guaranteed by the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, ECOWAS emphasised the importance of maintaining peace.
“The Commission welcomes the State of the Nation address of 4th August 2024 by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urges the protesters and all stakeholders to heed the President’s call for inclusive dialogue for the resolution of all grievances and for the preservation of peace and security in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region at large,” the statement added.
Recall that that President Tinubu, on Sunday, addressed the youths who have been protesting since Thursday August 1, 2024 against the country’s economic challenges.
Tinubu had urged the demonstrators to suspend their rallies and engage in dialogue, but the protesters have remained resolute, insisting that the President was yet to address their demands.
Nigeria is grappling with severe inflation and economic crises, exacerbated by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of the forex windows.
The protesters, driven by social media campaigns, have been calling for the restoration of petrol subsidies, a more favourable forex regime, and measures to address food shortages and unemployment.
They also demanded a reduction in government spending, reforms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as a renewed fight against corruption.
The protests have escalated in various states including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Nasarawa where hoodlums hijacked the situation to burn down vehicles and loot warehouses and private stores.
The police have so far reported seven deaths during the protests while also denying the involvement of its personnel in any killings.
Civil society organisations have condemned police’s use of tear gas to disperse protesters, emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution.