The $4 million regional security financing was part of the body's Counter Terrorism Humanitarian response programme
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has doled out 4 million US dollars to its member states to help counter domestic terrorist activities within their various regions.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by the ECOWAS chairman, President Bola Tinubu, who said that the regional security financing was part of the body’s Counter Terrorism Humanitarian response programme.
“The frontline Member States in the fight against terrorism have also been supported with USD4 million under the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Humanitarian Response,” the president stated.
The West African eco-political alliance, under its broader umbrella, has certain inter-regional developmental initiatives, which include security and trade treaties, social and agricultural programmes designed for the common good of their citizens.
He expounded on the bloc’s decision to collectively finance start-ups businesses in member states regions, including promoting food security and providing Regional Fund for Agriculture.
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He continued: “To achieve sustainable electricity access within the ECOWAS and Sahel countries, we will provide a total grant of 38 million US dollars to SMEs in Member States.
“ECOWAS will extend this to Mauritania, Central African Republic, Chad and Cameroon through Commercial and Financial Institutions. An additional loan of 140 million US dollars will also be made available to the solar SMEs.
“Within the period under review, ECOWAS has supported Experts from Member States in international meetings and negotiations on environmental issues, including environmental governance. We provided support to our members in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the establishment of a regional carbon market.
“With respect to food security, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved the instruments to operationalize the Regional Fund for Agriculture and Food (RFAF). A Regional Food Security was developed to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.”
ECOWAS chairman hails Sahel’s pastoral hard work
“Furthermore, our support for pastoralism in the Sahel has targeted the improvement of animal health, with a record vaccination of over 490 million livestock.
“We have established common rules for controlling veterinary medicine products at borders.
“In addition, ECOWAS launched a project for Member States to access the Green Climate Fund.
“This will promote climate-smart agriculture through the use of technologies,” the president added.
