ECOWAS CHIEFS OF DEFENCE MEET IN DAKAR ON REGIONAL SECURITY.

ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence meet in Dakar on regional security
In continuation with the multinational approach to end
security related challenges within the ECOWAS member
nations. The 35th edition of ordinary meeting of the
Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) is ongoing in Dakar,
Senegal. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel
Olonisakin is leading the Nigeria delegates to the
meeting.
The meeting is deliberating on new structures of the
ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and the Peace Support
Operations Division (PSOD). Other areas of discussion
include 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 are using the occasion
to brief 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 are putting in place 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. With increased regional
and continental awareness of the evil of the terrorism
and related crimes in the West African Sub Region, the
perpetrators of evils will have it rough with regional
forces.
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.