By Obinna Uballa
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has warned that terrorist activities across West Africa pose a grave threat to regional trade and economic integration, stressing the need to raise $2.61 billion to fund a 5,000-strong Standby Force.
Speaking at a meeting of ECOWAS Defence and Finance Ministers in Abuja at the weekend, Touray said the rise of terrorist groups within and around the region could cripple the free movement of people, goods, and services, undermining decades of progress in economic and social integration.
“The activities of terrorist groups could dismantle regional trade and the movement of people, goods, and services within and across the West African region, thus reducing economic and social interaction among ECOWAS states,” he said. “In effect, terrorism in whatever form has been identified by ECOWAS leaders as a major threat to the integration effort of the body.”
Touray noted that the Sahel region has experienced a dramatic increase in terrorist operations, driven by political instability, weak governance, and armed conflicts. He stressed that the security threat is no longer isolated but has spread across member states, necessitating urgent and coordinated action.
“Faced with the reality of terrorism as a phenomenon in the ECOWAS region, the regional body has been actively engaged in counter-terrorism efforts, deploying a multi-faceted approach. This covers developing a comprehensive Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Implementation Plan, establishing a Standby Force, and fostering regional cooperation on intelligence sharing, training, and humanitarian interventions,” he said.
To tackle the crisis, ECOWAS plans to deploy a 5,000-man regional force, estimated to cost $2.61 billion in its first year. However, due to funding constraints, the bloc will initially roll out 1,650 troops at a cost of $481.5 million.
The two-day meeting in Abuja focused on finalising funding modalities for the force, including a possible increase in the ECOWAS Community Levy, recovery of outstanding arrears, GDP-based contributions, direct budgetary allocations, blended financing, and targeted partnerships. Finance experts also presented an impact assessment of proposed measures on member states’ economies.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, also underscored the urgency of the initiative, warning that insecurity is threatening the region’s peace, economic stability, and democratic aspirations.
“We gather at a time when our region faces complex and evolving threats of terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crimes, and the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government,” Abubakar said. “The decisions we make here must reflect both the urgency of our security imperatives and the prudence required to ensure long-term viability.”
He commended the ECOWAS Commission for its proposals and stressed the importance of aligning security objectives with transparent and sustainable financing frameworks.
“As we move forward, it is essential to underscore the importance of aligning our strategic objectives with predictable, sustainable and transparent funding modalities,” he said, pledging Nigeria’s full commitment to the initiative.
