
Nigeria's Defence Minister calls for stronger ECOWAS and Sahel States security cooperation
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has advocated for enhanced security collaboration between the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States AES to combat terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crimes. Musa made this call during a working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, emphasizing that West Africa's complex security challenges necessitate a coordinated regional response. He urged the leadership of both blocs to find common ground to prevent insurgent spillover across land borders and improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, welcomed Musa and commended Nigeria's leadership in promoting peace and stability in West Africa, acknowledging its role in supporting democratic governance and its participation in Benin’s National Day parade. During his visit, Musa also met with Nigerian troops in Togbin, conveying President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to troop welfare and operational effectiveness, and visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou. Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mopelola Ibrahim, highlighted that diplomatic engagement with Benin focuses on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance. The AES, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, withdrew from ECOWAS but both blocs face shared security threats like terrorism, violent extremism, and cross-border crimes.


