Coup, terrorism, others threaten West Africa’s existence -CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has listed terrorism, coup d’etat, organised crime, amongst others, as the bane of Africa’s development and progress.

Musa spoke today at the opening event of a security meeting hosted by the Chief of Defence Staff.

In attendance were all ECOWASECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff; Minister of Defence , Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo; former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; service chiefs; and heads of other paramilitary agencies in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the critical meeting is expected to address security issues within the continent.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), ministers of Defence, Foreign and Internal Affairs, amongst others, were also in attendance.

Musa said, “As we jointly celebrate our topical issues bordering on the general situation in West Africa, your presence here reflects a shared commitment and dedication towards living in a sustainable environment for the safety and well-being of our people. It demonstrates a collective drive to address the various community threats affecting the region through deliberate and concerted collaborative efforts.

“As leaders in our respective armed forces, we are all aware of the threats that confront our nations and regions. These threats include terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, violence, education, and recently, the unconstitutional takeover of government and national politics.”

READ ALSO: Protest: Why Nigerians clamoured for Russian intervention — Al-Mustapha

He noted that these challenges not only threaten individual national security but also undermine the social fabric and socio-economic development of the entire region.

“Recent challenges like the military coup, Qatar, and some countries in the region have had unintended consequences and have threatened our collective democratic values.

“This threat must be destroyed as it negates our core responsibilities as military professionals. Let me therefore use this opportunity to emphasise that, as democratic countries, we in the military must uphold democratic values in line with our various constitutions.

“I am also optimistic that this meeting will assist us to prevent such abnormalities while strengthening our collective resolve to bring about peace and sustainable development to our people.

“Accordingly, the complexity of this meeting lastly demands that we leverage our collective efforts, share intelligence, and coordinate our efforts across borders if we must solve these challenges. Thus, collaboration is paramount, and I encourage you to address both the root causes and symptoms of this security in our region.

“It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and build in for our previous engagements.

“Some of these critical areas include the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone and the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism. Other issues in line for deliberation are the development of the Air Force Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone and Air Force Peace Support Operations.

“As we embark on today’s discussions, I must remind us all that your insights and experiences are paramount to support our shared mission. While our sincerity and constructive commitment are essential for conducting the discussions, to this end, I encourage everyone to enthusiastically exchange ideas and strategies during this meeting for the benefit of all.

“I also wish to enjoin you all to always remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and honour their dedication to maintaining peace. Let me, at this juncture, express my profound gratitude to the Chairman of the Air Force, who is also the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Ndumu, Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, for his inspirational leadership and support throughout the course of this conference,” he said.