By Gami Tadanyigbe
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, general Christopher Musa, has called for stronger security collaboration between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to combat terrorism, insurgency and other transnational crimes threatening the West African sub-region.
General Musa made the call during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he is engaging with regional defence officials to strengthen security cooperation and harmonise defence strategies.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Minister said the complex security challenges confronting West Africa require an inclusive, coordinated and collective regional response.
He urged the leadership of ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to put aside political differences and work together to curb the spread of insurgency across land borders while enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“There is a need for a unified security alliance between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to defeat terrorism, dismantle cross-border criminal networks and restore regional stability. The leadership of both blocs should find common ground to insulate land borders from insurgent spillover and strengthen maritime security along the Gulf of Guinea,” Musa said.
The Minister was received at the Cotonou International Airport by Benin Republic’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan.
Agonkan commended Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting peace and stability across West Africa, particularly its contributions to democratic governance and regional security.
He also praised the Nigerian Army contingent that participated in Benin’s National Day parade on August 1, describing Nigeria as an indispensable partner in the fight against transnational crime.
As part of his visit, Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare, enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening the capacity of the armed forces.
The minister also visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou, where he was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mopelola Ibrahim.
The ambassador said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin remains focused on expanding bilateral trade and reinforcing joint border surveillance to address emerging security threats.
The Alliance of Sahel States, made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, was formed after the three military-led countries withdrew from ECOWAS following disagreements over sanctions imposed by the regional bloc and timelines for returning to democratic rule.
The countries formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, and have since strengthened military, political and economic cooperation under the AES framework.
Despite the political rift between the two blocs, both continue to face common security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, insurgency, arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes, particularly across the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea.