Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, has called for stronger security cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), urging both regional blocs to unite in confronting terrorism, transnational organised crime and other cross-border security threats.
General Musa made the call on Tuesday upon his arrival in Cotonou, Benin Republic, for a three-day working visit aimed at harmonising regional defence strategies and strengthening collective efforts to secure West Africa.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Defence Minister stressed that only a united regional approach would effectively counter insurgency, secure porous borders and safeguard the Gulf of Guinea against growing security challenges.
He was received at the Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Mr. Gildas Agonkan.
Addressing defence officials, General Musa said the evolving security environment in West Africa demands inclusive collaboration among all regional stakeholders, regardless of existing political alignments.
He urged ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to find common ground in order to prevent the spread of insurgent activities across land borders, strengthen intelligence sharing and enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The security challenges confronting the region require collective action. A coordinated regional response is essential to dismantle terrorist networks, curb transnational crimes and restore lasting peace and stability across West Africa,” the minister stated.
In his remarks, Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Mr. Agonkan, commended Nigeria for its leadership role in promoting peace and stability across the sub-region.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s swift interventions in defence of democratic governance in West Africa and praised the performance of the Nigerian Army contingent during Benin’s National Day parade held on August 1, describing Nigeria as an indispensable partner in the fight against terrorism and transnational crime.
As part of his engagements in Benin, General Musa visited Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare, enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening the Armed Forces’ capabilities.
The Defence Minister also visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou, where he was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Mrs. Mopelola Ibrahim.
During the meeting, Ambassador Ibrahim reaffirmed that Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin is anchored on expanding bilateral trade and deepening joint border surveillance to improve security and economic cooperation between both countries.
General Musa’s visit is expected to further strengthen defence cooperation between Nigeria and Benin while advancing broader regional efforts to address terrorism, insurgency and cross-border criminal activities across West Africa.
