The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has called on political and military leaders in the Economic Community of West African States to strengthen the ECOWAS Standby Force and ensure its readiness for rapid deployment against terrorism, insurgency and other transnational security threats.
Abbas made the call while receiving the Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force, Brigadier General Sheikh Sulaiman Massaquoi, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The Naval Chief stressed that the growing interconnectedness of Africa’s security challenges made it increasingly difficult for individual countries to effectively tackle terrorism, insurgency and organised cross-border crime alone.
He advocated stronger regional cooperation, particularly in the maritime domain, and urged more African countries to participate actively in joint efforts aimed at addressing common security threats.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Abbas also highlighted Nigeria’s increasing contribution to regional security through maritime operations, logistics and strategic sealift capabilities.
The CNS referenced the recently launched Combined Maritime Task Force–Gulf of Guinea, describing it as an important platform for strengthening collective maritime security in the region.
He urged more countries to join the initiative, saying broader participation would enhance the region’s ability to respond effectively to transnational maritime threats.
“Accordingly, a coordinated regional response, anchored on shared intelligence, interoperable forces, joint operations, and sustained political commitment, represents the future of African security and the most effective means of protecting the continent’s people, resources, and development aspirations,” Abbas said.
Nigeria’s Regional Security Support
The Naval Chief cited Nigeria’s role in facilitating regional logistics, including the recent transportation of Chinese-donated ECOWAS equipment destined for frontline countries such as Benin Republic and Sierra Leone.
He said the equipment comprised non-lethal field-support items intended to enhance the operational and humanitarian capabilities of ECOWAS member states.
Abbas also recalled the Nigerian Navy’s strategic sealift operation to Guinea-Bissau in 2022, when NNS KADA transported military equipment for the Nigerian contingent deployed under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission.
“The deployment demonstrated Nigeria’s ability to sealift maritime logistics in support of regional peace and security initiatives,” he said.
Against this backdrop, the CNS called for closer cooperation between the ECOWAS Standby Force and the Combined Maritime Task Force–Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that security challenges increasingly cut across land and maritime environments, making it necessary for regional forces to share intelligence, capabilities and operational resources.
Abbas said closer coordination between the two initiatives would help create a more integrated security architecture capable of responding to threats across West Africa.
ECOWAS Commends Nigeria
In his remarks, Massaquoi conveyed greetings from the President of the ECOWAS Commission and acknowledged Nigeria’s significant contribution to regional peace and security.
He expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued support for ECOWAS programmes and initiatives, while stressing the importance of strengthening the maritime component of the subregional security architecture.
The meeting underscored the need for greater regional interoperability, stronger maritime cooperation and increased African participation in collective security initiatives.
It also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic role in efforts to build a more responsive security framework capable of addressing terrorism, organised crime and emerging maritime threats across the Gulf of Guinea and the wider West African region.
