Issues of insecurity and regional economic integration are expected to take front-burner positions Saturday, as President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attend a one-day Heads of State and Government Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The decision to convene the Summit was reached at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on June 29, 2019, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
President Buhari, according to the Statement, recognised the imperative of collective actions in the fight against terrorism, and will continue to partner with ECOWAS member states and international organisations to address the menace.
The Nigerian leader had drawn the region’s attention to the recurring incidents of inter-communal clashes, herder-farmer conflicts, banditry and terrorists attacks in all our countries, according the statement
Buhari declared while calling upon other heads of state “to act collectively in order to end the menace by adopting a common strategy both at the national and regional levels.”
The region had also adopted ECOWAS common currency, Eco, with each member state expected to achieve four primary criteria, including a single-digit rate of inflation at the end of each year
Others include a deficit of no more than 4% of the GDP, a central bank deficit-financing of no more than 10% of the previous year’s tax revenues, as well as gross external reserves that can give import cover for a minimum of three months.
Amidst the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region, the West African leaders had called for the Summit to review different initiatives taken so far, and redefine the priority intervention areas for the containment of the worrisome attacks in the area.
In Ouagadougou, ECOWAS leaders are expected to adopt a priority action plan on counter-terrorism and put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the measures adopted towards ensuring lasting peace in the sub-region.
President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Abubakar Bello, Dapo Abiodun and Okezie Ikpeazu of Niger, Ogun and Abia States respectively. Others on his entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi
Also accompanying the President are the National Security Adviser, Maj-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
