President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised alarm over the delayed activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force, calling on West African leaders to move decisively from “concept to operational reality” in the region’s battle against terrorism and transnational crimes.

Speaking during his opening address at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, President Tinubu, in one of his final acts as outgoing chairman of the regional bloc, underscored the urgent need for collective security measures amid rising insecurity across the sub-region.

According to a statement issued for his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said, “I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired. The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality.”

The Nigerian president warned that security threats facing West Africa are no longer confined within borders and are increasingly driven by agile, dangerous, and borderless networks.

“No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure our region”, he stressed.

President Tinubu used the platform to highlight key milestones achieved under his chairmanship, including progress in regional military logistics.

He pointed to the completion of the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, as a significant step toward building a responsive security architecture.

“With the depot’s completion, Nigeria is committing itself to sea-lift and air-lift arrangements with ECOWAS. Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union to reinforce this commitment”, he announced.

He also reflected on diplomatic efforts to reintegrate Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have been suspended from the bloc following military takeovers.

While acknowledging the setbacks, Tinubu expressed cautious optimism.

“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” he said.

On the economic front, the Nigerian leader reiterated the importance of regional cooperation and integration, lamenting the persistently low levels of intra-regional trade despite the bloc’s potential.

“Our intra-regional trade remains low, even as we possess the potential to be an economic powerhouse. We must create the enabling environment, empower the private sector, and create the conditions necessary for innovation to flourish”, Tinubu noted.

He urged speedy implementation of key infrastructure projects, identifying the West African Gas Pipeline, West African Power Pool, and Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway as critical levers for boosting development and economic connectivity across member states.

“Our future demands action, not hesitation,” he declared, reinforcing his belief that regional peace, prosperity, and security can only be achieved through collective will and purpose-driven leadership.