CDS General
Olonisakin
General Olonisakin
CDS General
Olonisakin
General Olonisakin Urges ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to
Regional Insecurity
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Abayomi
Olonisakin has urged members of the Economic Community of West
Africa States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff,
alongside their Chiefs of Naval Staff to workout modalities to
tackle security challenges confronting the ECOWAS region.The CDS
made the call at a dinner organised in honour of the ECOWAS Chiefs
of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of Naval Staff in Abuja. Gen
Olonisakin stated that the dinner was to appreciate the Armed
Forces of the member states’ for their contribution towards the
attainment of ECOWAS mandate of ensuring peace and economic
development in the Sub-region.
The CDS, who was earlier in the day inaugurated as the Chairman
ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, used the opportunity
provided by the 39th ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs
held in Abuja to host the dinner to enable further discussions on
the solution to security challenges in the sub-region.
Speaking further, at the occasion, General Olonisakin
reiterated, that the regional body remains a rallying point for
West Africa, in terms of security reforms and economic development.
He pointed out that the changing nature of conflict and security
challenges in the world today is translating into insecurity in
international border areas. He added that ECOWAS as a regional
economic community must rise up against these challenges.
General Olonisakin described the outcome of the discussions from
the 39th ordinary meeting as rewarding and a clear evidence of the
collective resolve and determination by ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence
Staff and their Armed Forces to proffer solutions to contemporary
security challenges bedeviling the region.
The CDS used the occasion to reaffirm the commitment of
President Muhammadu Buhari towards sustaining Federal Government’s
support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in fulfilment of its
role to ECOWAS.
The ECOWAS Commissioner of Political affairs, Peace and
Security, General Francis Behanzin in a succinct response,
expressed appreciation to the CDS and the AFN for providing the
facilities and enabling environment for hosting of the 39th
ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence
Staff. Behanzin acknowledged the leadership role played by Nigeria
towards championing peace, unity and development in the sub
region.
The guests were later entertained by Unity cultural troupe from
the Federal Capital Territory Council of Arts and Culture
Abuja.
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ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information