The Economic Community Of West African State (ECOWAS) has listed fighting terrorism as its top agenda in the coming years.

The Council ministers enlisted Financing action plans to combat terrorism ravaging Member States at the 83rd Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
Mr Kalla Ankouroa, Chairman of the Council and Niger Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria at the opening of the Ministerial Session.

Chairman Ankouroa stated that the Council of Ministers would be financing the action plan for counter-terrorism in line with the decisions of the extraordinary summit of Heads of States.

He stated that this was important and urgent and it requires the commitment of Member-States.

He revealed the security situation of the region was a major concern during the Mediation and Security Council meeting on December 16, leading to the adoption of the Plan of Action.

The Council of Ministers meeting will also brainstorm on political and economic issues, humanitarian crises, climate change and social development challenges confronting the region with a bid to proffering solutions.

“Today, we brainstormed on the state of our community, considered ways of advancing the regional agenda of our region, and came up with appropriate responses to the various challenges facing us today.

“In addition to the recurring issues of economic and social development of our people and the issues of enhancing democracy, we have to deal with new threats affecting our regions.

“The major issues bordered on security due to terrorism, and the effect of climate change on our systems of production and the humanitarian crises.

“We expect members of the council to put heads together constructively and productively in furtherance to the commitment of tackling the issues.

“At this 83rd ordinary session, we are going to be considering the financing of the action plan for counter-terrorism in line with the decisions of the extraordinary summit.

“It is an important issue for our deliberations which was already considered yesterday in the Mediation and Security Council which adopted the Plan of Action. ”

Mr Jean-Claude Brou, President Of ECOWAS Commission, said that the 83rd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers would also remind the community on the urgency of the security issue.

“The important issue of the funding of the five-year action plan to combat terrorism will be touched; you remember we discussed it at the extraordinary summit that took place on Sept. 14 Ouagadougou,” Brou said.

Culled from www.nta.ng