ECOWAS 58th ordinary session: Nigeria’s President Buhari commits $100m to tackle terrorism in sub-region

President Muhammadu Buhari virtually participated in the 58th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigerian leader has committed the sum of $100m to combat insecurity in the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) sub-region.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, told attendees at the virtual 58th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, that the sum of $20m will be released for the implementation of the ECOWAS action plan on the fight against terrorism.

He said another $80m will be disbursed towards the fight against terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s north-east and north-west regions.

According to the minister, President Buhari has called for the immediate implementation of the action plan, which is expected to run from 2020 to 2024.

There has been a sharp surge of insecurity in the region owing to the devastating activities of Boko Haram and affiliate, ISIL-WA in the north east region as well as headers/ farmer clashes, banditry, kidnapping, et cetera.

The government believes that the insecurity fight under the current administration has been far more progressive than in previous governments.

But while the government continues to bask on this seeming euphoria that appreciable successes have been recorded in its insurgency war, new incidences are popping up randomly across the country though moderately consistent in Borno state, the epic centre of Boko Haram operations in north east.

Some individuals and groups particularly in the affected areas have faulted the claims even as many, plus officers on the frontline have suffered different degrees of injuries, including death.