ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff meet over regional security

In continuation with the multinational efforts to end security problems within the ECOWAS member nations, the Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) attended the 35th edition of ordinary meeting in Dakar, Senegal.

According to the Defence spokesperson, Col Rabe Abubakar said Thursday in Abuja that the meeting deliberated on new structures of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD). Other areas of discussion included ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB), Exit Strategy and the implementation of the Defence and Security Sector Reform Programme (DSSRP) in Guinea Bissau.

The Nigerian delegates led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, briefed the wider regional body about the Boko Haram insurgency and the efforts the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) member countries to end Boko Haram terrorists activities in the region.

It would be recalled that the CDS, Gen Olonisakin attended similar meeting some days back in Mali where regional efforts to curb terrorism and insurgency were extensively discussed.

Highlight of the Conference was the presentation of papers by Nigeria CDS and the Chief of the Naval Staff on Boko Haram insurgency and maritime security and the challenges of emerging maritime crimes respectively.

Among the entourage who accompanied the CDS included the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and the Chief of Training and Operations at Defence Headquarters, Major General Shehu Yusuf and other staff officers of the Defence Headquarters.