Insecurity: Nigeria, ECOWAS Sign MoU on Implementing Early Warning Mechanism

• Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will now collaborate on security
• As a result of this, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between them to make it work
• The collaboration will give information on incidents likely to affect social peace and security in the West African region

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The Federal Republic of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the implementation of an early warning mechanism and for the establishment of a National Early Warning and Response Centre in the country.

Since security threats confronting Nigeria and the rest of West Africa are becoming more violent, asymmetric, cross-border by nature, and spreading faster than before, the need for effective sub-regional collaboration on early warning systems has become a necessity, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

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Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday, July 13, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a signing ceremony, a statement sent to Legit.ng indicated.

The Strategic Framework for the establishment of National Early Warning and Response mechanisms was adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at the 45th ordinary session which held in Accra, Ghana in July 2014.

According to the framework, the establishment of the early warning system is to provide real-time information on events or other incidents likely to affect social peace and security in the West African region. It also seeks to provide information on the occurrence of social and political events and climate change.

A major objective of a national coordination centre for the early warning mechanism is to strengthen the ECOWAS strategy for information sharing among the member states, so as to avert or reduce threats.

Nigeria has shown commitment to promoting peace

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On his part, the minister of state for foreign affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, said the signing of the MoU was a consolidation of discussions held at different levels by ECOWAS leaders to find ways of containing threats to security in the sub-region.

Also in his remarks, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, said the signing of the MoU reiterates Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace and security in West Africa.

Insecurity a lucrative business in northern Nigeria

Legit.ng had reported that the chairman of Action Alliance (AA), Adekunle Rufai, said because insecurity is lucrative in northern Nigeria it has remained unabated.

Rufai made the comment while addressing journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Monday, July 12.

He called on the Nigerian government to diminish banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country, adding that the authorities have the primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of the people it is governing.

Source: Legit.ng