File photo: Defence Minister, Christopher Musa

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has called for stronger security cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States to combat terrorism, insurgency and transnational crimes across the region.

Musa made the call on Tuesday during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he is holding talks aimed at harmonising regional defence strategies and strengthening security cooperation.

According to a statement by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said West Africa’s complex security challenges required an inclusive and coordinated regional response.

He urged the leadership of ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to find common ground to curb the spread of insurgency across land borders and improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“There is a need for a unified security alliance between the ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to defeat terrorism, dismantle cross-border criminal networks, and restore regional stability. ECOWAS and AES leadership should find a common ground to insulate land borders from insurgent spillover and strengthen maritime security along the Gulf of Guinea., ” he was quoted as saying.

Musa who was received at Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan.

Agonkan commended Nigeria for what he described as its leadership role in promoting peace and stability in West Africa, citing the country’s interventions in support of democratic governance in the sub-region.

He also praised the performance of the Nigerian Army contingent that participated in Benin’s National Day parade on August 1, describing Nigeria as an indispensable partner in the fight against transnational crime.

During the visit, Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare, enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening the capacity of the armed forces.

The minister also visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou, where he was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mopelola Ibrahim.

The ambassador said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin remained focused on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance to tackle emerging security threats.

The Alliance of Sahel States comprises Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three military-led countries that withdrew from ECOWAS after disagreements with the regional bloc over sanctions and the timeline for returning to civilian rule.

The three countries formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, and have since deepened military, political and economic cooperation under the AES framework.

Despite their political differences, both blocs face common security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, insurgency, arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes, particularly in the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea.