President Bola Tinubu has urged leaders of West Africa to stand together against emerging threats to democracy, pointing to the recent coup attempt in Benin Republic and growing instability in Guinea-Bissau as warning signs for the region.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 68th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Sunday, Tinubu said the region faces serious challenges that require collective action rather than isolated responses.
He listed terrorism, violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, organised crime, cyber threats, climate shocks, food insecurity and irregular migration as major dangers confronting West Africa.
According to him, the biggest danger to the region is internal division, not external pressure. He described West Africa as a family bound by shared history, culture and aspirations, stressing that unity remains its strongest defence.
Tinubu said Nigeria believes dialogue, solidarity and persuasion should guide ECOWAS through its current difficulties, even as member states remain firm on democratic values.
“No country, regardless of size or strength, can achieve lasting stability alone,” he said, calling on leaders to speak with one voice on security, governance and economic cooperation.
The meeting comes after years of political turmoil in the region, including coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which led to the withdrawal of some military-led governments from ECOWAS. Tensions have also risen following a failed coup in Benin on December 7 and renewed political uncertainty in Guinea-Bissau.
Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s swift response to Benin’s request for help, noting that regional cooperation helped prevent a breakdown of constitutional order. The Senate later approved the deployment of Nigerian troops to support stability efforts in Benin.
ECOWAS Chairman and Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, condemned the resurgence of coups, warning that instability in one country threatens the entire region. He praised the rapid deployment of ECOWAS troops and reaffirmed the bloc’s zero tolerance for unconstitutional takeovers.
Bio also announced plans to strengthen regional security, including steps toward operationalising an ECOWAS Standby Force for counter-terrorism and raising a 1,650-strong brigade by 2026.
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Beyond security, he called for deeper economic integration, including progress toward a single currency and measures to reduce the cost of air travel across West Africa from January 2026.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, commended member states for using both diplomatic and military efforts to protect democracy in Benin. He said the bloc would make key decisions aimed at revitalising regional integration and safeguarding its Vision 2050 goals.
Touray also announced the launch of the ECOWAS Business Council, with industrialist Aliko Dangote as its pioneer chair, to drive private-sector-led economic integration and regional investment.
Sunday’s meeting focused on shaping the future of ECOWAS as it navigates growing security, political and economic challenges across West Africa.
