By Ameh Gabriel
The Minister of Defense, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged West African leaders and partners to move beyond rhetoric and deliver practical strategies against terrorism threatening the ECOWAS and Sahel regions.
Speaking at the opening of the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru declared that “terrorism, insurgency and insecurity are existential challenges that endanger our people, our economies, and our shared future.”
The Minister anchored Nigeria’s position on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that peace is the cornerstone of prosperity. He outlined three key priorities:
”Integrating regional intelligence using real-time fusion and advanced technology to disrupt terror networks.
”Strengthening joint military operations, including the full activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force and harmonized legal frameworks that leave extremists no safe haven.
”Tackling root causes of radicalization by investing in education, youth empowerment, community resilience and accountable governance.
“Security must strengthen legitimacy, not weaken it,” Badaru emphasised.
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing contributions, he said the Armed Forces have dismantled terrorist strongholds, secured mass surrenders, and advanced rehabilitation and reintegration through Operation Safe Corridor.
He added that Nigeria continues to support the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin and uphold the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to safeguard both land and maritime domains.
“These initiatives show how military strength, diplomacy and community-based solutions can work together as models for the ECOWAS region,” the Minister explained.
Badaru commended the UN, AU, EU and other partners for their support but urged them to do more by investing in intelligence fusion platforms, supporting the ECOWAS Standby Force, and funding socio-economic programs to block extremist recruitment. “African resolve must be matched by sustained international partnership,” he noted.
Closing his address, the Defense Minister stressed urgency: “This conference must not end with words. It must deliver an actionable roadmap that strengthens partnerships, deepens collaboration and secures a future of peace, stability and shared prosperity. Nigeria’s message is clear: the region’s security is indivisible, the threats are urgent, and the time for united and well-supported action is now.”
