The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to curb terrorism and other transborder crimes in the sub-region.

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, announced this during the 43rd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of the Chiefs of Defence in Abuja yesterday.

The meeting was attended by Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS member countries except Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which had withdrawn from the sub-regional body.

Others at the meeting were the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah; Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and members of the diplomatic community.

Badaru said the meeting underscored their shared commitment to addressing the critical security challenges confronting the sub-region.

He called on the West African Chiefs of Defence Staff to close ranks to break the cycle of terrorism and armed violence confronting the region.

According to Badaru, by leveraging their collective expertise, resources and commitment, they can make a tangible impact on fostering peace, stability and prosperity in the sub-region.

“In this regard, I am pleased to announce the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat terrorism in the sub-region,” Badaru said.

“The activation of this force underscores our collective determination to confront the stretch of terrorism with regard to the security of the subregion.

“We must as a sub-region therefore recognise that our strife towards economic growth and development will invariably be fundamental to a home-grown sustainable peace and security.

“We as stakeholders in the sub-region must identify and strictly adjust to the changing order of the global landscape in which emerging threats of terrorism, organised crime, climate change, cybercrime and pandemics respond with respect to our parties.”

ECOWAS Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, said despite the recent withdrawal of three African countries, the ECOWAS maintains the free movement of persons and goods.

He said: “On 29 January 2025, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formally withdrew their memberships from ECOWAS.

“Following the directives of the Authority of Heads of State and Government at the last Summit in December 2024, the ECOWAS Commission has now initiated a contingency plan to mitigate the unforeseen consequences of their withdrawal.

“I so wish to stress that ECOWAS still has its doors open to welcome back our brothers and sisters from the countries that recently withdrew from our community.

“In this regards, ECOWAS committee of heads of state has directed that despite the withdrawal, ECOWAS must maintain the free movement of people and goods and the rights of settlement and establishment to all citizens of our community, including those from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in the spirit of where ECOWAS is going, that is, building a community and a united force of people and we do not want the ordinary citizens of our member states to suffer.”

Musah said the pledges made by the member states were being reconfigured in compliance with the directive to activate the Standby Force in the kinetic mode.

Egbetokun commended the ECOWAS defence forces for playing critical roles in stabilising the region.

“Our collective efforts to enhance regional security, counter transnational threats and promote defence cooperation will no doubt yield possible outcomes for our nation and our people,” he said.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara must comply fully and immediately with the judgment of the Supreme Court to keep the peace in Rivers State, the President declared yesterday.

According to him, the nation is governed by the rule of law without which there will be no order or governance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke during a meeting with the delegation of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at Aso Villa.

Speaking specifically on the request by the group for intervention in the political logjam, the President put the issue directly on the lap of Fubara.

He said: “Please go back home and help him implement those recommendations within the shortest possible time. I put the ball back in your court. Help him because, privately and openly, I intervened and counselled the governor.

“Only yesterday (Monday), I told him again to pursue the path of peace and stoop to conquer.

“This is a nation governed by the rule of law. I should not be here as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if there was no rule of law. I have total confidence in our judiciary.

“Human beings can make errors, but when the Supreme Court has spoken, that’s it.”

Before the apex court judgment, President Tinubu intervened and got the parties in the crisis to reach an agreement. But it was observed in the breach.

Fubara and his supporters claimed that the agreement was skewed against them.

Since the March 7 apex court judgment, apart from asking council chairmen whose election was declared invalid to vacate office, Fubara has repeatedly promised to comply.

The President further said: “We reached an agreement, a written agreement, and both parties signed. Some leaders thought the governor was wrong to have signed it and didn’t implement it. Where did we find ourselves today?

“I’ve given the situation enough time, enough thinking, enough consideration. We cannot falter, we will not.

“The people of Rivers State must not suffer for the democracy that we all pulled together. They will not, they must be protected. I assure you, we’ll do better.”

Yesterday in Port Harcourt, the governor again promised to implement the judgment.

The House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule remained active as it had been since the judgment.

It met with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) top officials.

The PANDEF big delegation was led by the body’s joint Board of Trustees (BoT) co-chairmen Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah.

Also in the delegation was PANDEF chairman Ambassador Godknows Igali.

The President assured the PANDEF leaders of the completion of ongoing projects of his Administration in the Southsouth region.

He said: “Send somebody to go look at what’s going on with the coastal road (Lagos/Calabar). That’s a huge economy and the opportunities associated with it.

“Yes, we’re working with internationally reputable companies to make Uyo Port, Calabar Port, and other Southsouth ports a reality.

“We’re resetting the economy, and it’s tilted far better now. There’s funding for our children in universities, our medical colleges are well-equipped.

“Yes, there’s an infrastructure deficit in some areas, but we will fix it. We’re setting our priorities right.

“With our youthful population, we can achieve the greatest things in Africa. Let us not look at the past wastes, let us learn lessons from it and move forward with this country.

“Whatever remains in these memos that you’ve submitted, I will take a look at them. We’ll meet more regularly.

“Go back home and take charge of peace, and if you need me, let me know.”

The President urged the leaders to support young leaders making strides in community development, citing the work of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of NDDC.

“Ogbuku, the MD of NDDC, is doing a very good job. Encourage him to achieve more,” President Tinubu said.

King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff thanked the President for his commitment to Southsouth well-being and appointments given to Niger Delta indigenes.

“Your government has taken the bull by the horns, and we are sure you will succeed. We are here to give you our assurance and support. God bless Nigeria and your government,” he said.

Obong Attah called for further intervention in the Rivers crises.

Attah, who also chairs the reconciliation committee set up by PANDEF in Rivers, said the political crisis threatens national stability and deserves more attention.

“Instability there has far-reaching consequences on the peace and stability of the nation,” he added.

He praised the President’s reforms, including power devolution and regional development recognition, and urged focus on infrastructure, seaports, environmental sustainability, and fiscal federalism.

On the delegation were politicians, top government officials, traditional rulers, and senior figures from the zone.

These include many known supporters of Fubara. Among them are: Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) chairman Uche Secondus, former Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru; and Prof. Mike Ozakhome (SAN).

Other are: former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; Senator Seriake Dickson; former NDDC Managing Director Timi Alaibe; Jaja of Opobo, Prof. Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Protesters yesterday stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital over abduction of nine surveyors at Owode Ilu-Abo in Akure South Local Government Area.

The surveyors who hail from Akure were at Owode Ilu-Abo for jobs when they were abducted.

Placards-carrying women stormed the streets of Akure and blocked the Oba Adesida Road.

A sister to one of the kidnapped victims, Comfort Afolabi, said the surveyors were abducted last week.

Afolabi said the kidnappers demanded N50mil;lion before they would begin negotiation for their release.

She said the kidnappers have placed the ransom at N100million before they would release their victims.

Kidnappings have been on the rise in Ondo State. Last week, a farmer and his manager were abducted while returning from the farm at Oba Ile.

Ondo Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, had admitted that the state Police Command lacked requisite logistics to tackle kidnappings and other criminals.