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Nigeria has called for closer cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen the fight against terrorism and violent extremism across the region. Speaking at a regional security meeting, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu stressed that despite political differences, both blocs must work together to tackle the growing threat posed by terrorist groups operating across shared borders.
Ribadu said intelligence sharing, joint military operations and stronger coordination among regional security agencies are essential to preventing terrorists from exploiting gaps between neighbouring countries. He noted that insecurity in the Sahel continues to affect West African nations, making sustained collaboration vital to protecting lives and maintaining regional stability.
Nigeria also reaffirmed its support for ongoing efforts to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force, describing stronger engagement with the Sahel states as a key step towards building a united regional response to terrorism. Security experts say improved cooperation between ECOWAS and the AES will be critical to addressing the cross-border nature of extremist violence in West Africa.
