President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, disclosed plans to strengthen the ECOWAS standby force in order to stop recurring coups in the African continent.
Tinubu, who was recently elected Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, also said that the special force would help combat terrorism in the sub-region.
The Nigerian President spoke on Sunday in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member-States.
He also warned that the era when plundering and exploitation of the continent’s resources were the order of the day had gone.
“Plans are on to strengthen the ECOWAS Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region,” he stated.
Tinubu also highlighted the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors of its integration process, cutting across trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security.
The Nigerian President in his “Address on the Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” re-echoed the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future.
He further highlighted the need to focus on inclusive growth, good governance, while leveraging on the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Tinubu called for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past.
He said, “As Africans, we forge ahead no matter the barriers thrust before us.
“The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. Past history and current global difficulties argue against our future success.
”Lessons of the past few years should teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite a downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.”