Tinubu Roars At ECOWAS Summit: ‘West Africa Deserves Action, Not Silence

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday voiced his frustration over the failure to activate the ECOWAS standby force, despite prior commitments from the Authority of Heads of State within the regional bloc.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during the opening of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Abuja — one of his final official duties as chairman — Tinubu lamented that the force had remained a mere idea rather than becoming a functional tool in the battle against terrorism and transnational crime.

“The ECOWAS Standby Force must evolve from theory into a functional reality,” he said. “I am concerned about the slow pace of its implementation. It is taking far too long.”

Tinubu stressed the urgency of making the force operational amid worsening insecurity across West Africa, warning that threats in the region transcend borders and are driven by well-coordinated, ruthless networks.

“No country can confront these threats in isolation,” he stated. “We must enhance collaboration, reinforce political resolve, and adopt a unified strategy to safeguard our region.”

Highlighting achievements under his leadership, Tinubu noted the completion of the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which will serve as a key hub for supplying equipment and support to ECOWAS forces.

He also referenced Nigeria’s signing of the Sixth Agreement with the African Union in Addis Ababa earlier this year, and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to providing sea and air-lift capabilities for regional deployments.