Nigeria Earns ECOWAS Recognition,4 Vehicles:Commission says gesture acknowledges Country’s longstanding leadership, contributions to peace, regional integration. By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has handed over four vehicles to the Nigerian Armed Forces in a symbolic recognition of Nigeria’s decades-long leadership and sacrifices toward promoting peace, security, democracy and regional integration across West Africa.
The vehicles — comprising one HIGER bus and three HAVAL Sports Utility Vehicles — were handed over on Friday, August 21, at the Defence Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
The equipment, originally donated by the Government of China to support the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, had been temporarily held at the Defence Headquarters Garrison in Abuja.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, described the gesture as a token of appreciation for Nigeria’s sustained commitment to regional peace and security.
Musah commended Nigeria for what he described as its “invaluable leadership” and enduring contributions to regional integration, democracy, peace and security.
He said the gesture recognised Nigeria’s sacrifices and longstanding support for regional efforts to restore and maintain peace and democratic governance among ECOWAS Member States.
The Commissioner stressed that Nigeria’s role in the regional bloc goes beyond political leadership, pointing to the country’s continued contributions to collective peace and security efforts at a time when West Africa faces complex security challenges.
Also speaking, ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr. Habibu Yaya Bappah, expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for their unwavering support for ECOWAS and its regional integration, peace and security initiatives over the years.
Responding on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Commander of the Defence Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, Major General Mike Alechenu, thanked the ECOWAS Commission for recognising Nigeria’s contributions to peace, security and democracy in West Africa.
He assured the Commission that the vehicles would be deployed for effective and productive use.
The handover further highlights the strategic importance of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, as part of the regional bloc’s efforts to strengthen its logistical capacity for peace and security operations.
For Nigeria, the gesture also comes as a recognition of a country that has historically carried a significant share of the responsibility for regional peacekeeping and conflict-resolution efforts within the West African sub-region.
