President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) dedication to good governance and fighting terrorism during a high-level meeting on peace and security at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China, on Thursday.
“ECOWAS remains deeply committed to upholding good governance, combating terrorism, providing humanitarian aid, and engaging in intensive peacekeeping, diplomacy, and mediation,” Tinubu stated, as quoted by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale.
Highlighting Nigeria’s holistic approach to fostering peace and stability, the president said, “Nigeria’s approach to fostering peace and stability in West Africa is comprehensive, combining military intervention, diplomatic engagement, dialogue, negotiations, and mutually beneficial economic collaboration.”
President Tinubu also stressed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to peacebuilding, saying, “Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to peacebuilding has solidified its position as a cornerstone of regional stability. We will continue to strengthen our efforts to support a more secure and prosperous West Africa. I assure you.”
Acknowledging China’s contributions to Africa’s development through initiatives like the Belt and Road and FOCAC, Tinubu emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
He noted that true peace goes beyond the absence of war, stating, “True peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity, economic opportunity, and human security.”
Tinubu also underscored Nigeria’s pivotal role in ECOWAS’ evolution, saying, “Throughout the bloc’s transition from an economic bloc to an integrated regional security architecture for West Africa, Nigeria has been there at the forefront. Nigeria’s leadership has been critical in developing mechanisms for conflict resolution and management.”
The remarks reinforce Nigeria’s central role in ECOWAS as it navigates complex security and governance challenges across West Africa.