ECOWAS and AES Alliance Urged by Nigeria's Defence Minister

On his three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, advocated for a unified security alliance between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to effectively combat terrorism and dismantle cross-border criminal networks. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Mr.

Gildas Agonkan. General Musa stressed the necessity of joint regional efforts to address West Africa’s complex security challenges, particularly in securing the Gulf of Guinea and preventing insurgent spillover across land borders.

Mr. Agonkan acknowledged Nigeria's pivotal role in regional stability and praised the Nigerian Army's performance during Benin’s National Day parade on August 1st.

During his visit, General Musa also met with Nigerian troops in Togbin, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to troop welfare and operational effectiveness. He was hosted by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs.

Mopelola Ibrahim, who highlighted Nigeria's focus on enhancing bilateral trade and joint border surveillance.