The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying the fight against terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel, pledging stronger collaboration with regional partners to restore peace and security across the region.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, made the pledge on Wednesday, according to a statement released by his spokesman, Mati Ali.
According to the statement, the minister spoke at the opening of the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security, held at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja.
He warned that “terrorism, insurgency and insecurity are existential challenges that endanger our people, our economies, and our shared future”.
Badaru Abubakar placed Nigeria’s assurances at the centre of the discussion, aligning them with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises peace as the cornerstone of prosperity.
“The Federal Government set three priorities including integrating intelligence across the region through real-time fusion and technology to track and disrupt terror networks, the institutionalisation of joint military operations with renewed push for the full operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force and harmonized legal frameworks that leave no safe havens for extremists as well as tackling the root causes of radicalization by investing in education, youth empowerment, community resilience and accountable governance,” he said.
The minister added that Nigeria has positioned itself within the wider geopolitical space, stressing that regional security requires a balance of African resolve and international solidarity.
He added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have recorded significant progress by dismantled multiple terrorists/criminal strongholds, prompting thousands of surrenders.
“Operation Safe Corridor is advancing rehabilitation and reintegration to reduce the cycle of violence and help communities heal. Nigeria supports the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin. Nigeria also upholds the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to secure land and maritime domains.”
Badaru Abubakar explained that these initiatives demonstrate how military strength, diplomacy, and community-based solutions can complement one another and serve as models for the ECOWAS region.
He thanked the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and other international partners for their continuous support, which strengthened regional capacity.
The minister urged the partners to invest in intelligence fusion platforms, provide technical support for the ECOWAS Standby Force, and fund socio-economic programmes that block extremist recruitment pipelines.
